The Monash University Choral Society (along with several other Melbourne choirs) has been invited to join the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra in their 80th Anniversary performances of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony – Symphony of a Thousand on the 21st & 22nd of September.

In turn we invite you, members of MonUCS and other AICSA choirs, to participate in this spectacular event. We will be organizing weekly rehearsals for locals and a 3 day mini-fest for locals and interstate choristers with rehearsals and social events from Friday the 12th to Sunday the 14th of July. We will be also organizing social events over the performance weekend.

For full details as they become available, registration and expressions of interest, see the Mahler 8 section of our website.

Use booking code “web2″ by Thursday 13th December to recieve a $5 discount off all tickets purchased!

The changing of seasons has always been a time of great inspiration and reflection for many. A time to remember what has past and what the future holds. A time where new life and new love spring forth, where faith is questioned and renewed and where hope is reborn. It is this change of seasons that served as inspiration for many composers, especially in England and central Europe throughout the 19th and early 20th Century.

The Monash University Choral Society will present music by Eric Whitacre, Sarah Hopkins, Hubert Parry, Anton Dvorak and be joined by baritone Matthew Tng in Vaughn Williams 5 Mystical Songs and Fantasia On Christmas Carols.

Join us as we examine the music of composers whose music is not just about nature but contain a deeper reflection on a time of change, new life, new love, restored faith and an exploration of the pastoral mysteries as we approach the festive season.

When: Saturday 15th December 2pm

Venue: Religious Centre, Building 9, Monash University Clayton Campus

Ticket Prices: $25 Adult/ $20 Concession

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/CDKN

On the 22nd of September, 2012, the Monash University Choral Society will mark its 50th Anniversary by performing a very special concert in South Yarra. The choir will be performing Carl Orff’s spectacular, Carmina Burana, one of the most popular pieces of music of all time best known for its unforgettable opening movement, O Fortuna.

As well as Orff’s masterpiece MonUCS will also be performing Ralph Vaughn William’s Serenade to Music, a breathtakingly beautiful piece originally composed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first concert of famous English conductor Sir Henry Wood. The show will be completed with a selection of songs from the traditional repertoire of MonUCS; the music which we have held dearest of all as a society.

Conducted by Patrick Burns and featuring baritone Nathan Lay, soprano Hannah Dahlenberg and tenor Brenton Spiteri this concert is simply not to be missed by any lover of music. Please join us on the 22nd at the Melbourne High School Memorial Hall and celebrate fifty golden and magical years.

Saturday 22nd September, 7:30pm
Melbourne High School Memorial Hall
Alexander Avenue, South Yarra

Adults $37 — Concession $32

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/BUNP

Use booking code “cherub1″ by 2pm, Saturday 22nd of September to receive $5 off each ticket purchased.

Enquiries: committee@monucs.aicsa.org.au

Cherubfest is held every five years to celebrate the birthday of the Monash University Choral Society (MonUCS). Friends of MonUCS, past and current members come together for a long weekend of singing, socialising and celebration.

This year is extra-special, as it is our 50th birthday! This year’s Cherubfest is themed Revival and promises to be a weekend of revitalising friendships, exploring our musical talents, remembering the rich history of the Society and looking forward to the exciting opportunities yet to come.

Our dedicated Cherubfest 2012 website is now up and running at http://cherubfest.weebly.com/ so you can check out all the details as they’re released. Places for all social and musical events are strictly limited so register ASAP to make sure you don’t miss out!

Since 1962 the Monash University Choral Society has been dedicated to allowing both students at Monash University and members of the wider community the opportunity to learn and perform both major and minor choral works in a friendly, open and relaxed environment. On December 18 and in preparation for their 50th Anniversary celebrations next year, come and join the choir for their performance of Handel’s Messiah. The group will be joined by the orchestra of Melbourne Opera, who incidentally will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary next year. The choir also welcomes four distinguished soloists, Hannah Dahlenburg, Kerrie Bolton, Timothy Reynolds and Nick Dinopoulos. Conducted by Patrick Burns, it will be an afternoon of joyous music making for the Christmas season.

Date: Sunday December 18th
Time: 2pm (Box office open 1pm)
Where: Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University Clayton Campus
Tickets: $35 (adults), $25 (concession), $20 (groups) – a $2.20 booking fee per ticket applies
Bookings: by telephone: (03) 9905 1111, or online: http://www.monash.edu/mapa

Why, damme it’s too bad!

We hope that you enjoyed HMS Pinafore on Saturday. Over 200 people came to see us on Saturday. If you weren’t one of them, and especially if you were, our next concert will be Handel’s Messiah. Most famous for the Hallelujah Chorus performed every year on Carols by Candlelight (Channel 9), it will herald us into our 50th Birthday Celebrations. More details to come…

Ever thought that Gilbert and Sullivan could be improved with a little steampunk? Or wondered how Gilbert and Sullivan would’ve written their operetta if Babbage’s Difference Engine had actually been built? Then come on down to see Monash University Choral Society perform HMS Pinafore: The Lass that Loved a Sailor as you’ve never seen it before.

Starring
Joseph Vu as Ralph Rackstraw
Lucas Wilson-Richter as Captain Corcoran, Commander of H.M.S. Pinafore
Jess Carrascalão Heard as Josephine, The Captain’s Daughter
Rohan Wilksch as Dick Deadeye
Oliver NcLean as The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter
Nick Power as Bill Bobstay
Sarah Carpenter as Bob Becket, the Carpenter’s Mate
Gaby Kolb as Cousin Hebe, Sir Joseph’s First Cousin
Ella Motteram as Mrs. Cripps (Little Buttercup)

Conducted by Patrick Burns and Accompanied by Emma Cutting

Date: Saturday September 10
Time: 7pm (Doors open 6:30pm)
Where: Phoenix Theatre,
101 Glen Huntly Rd, Elwood
Tickets: $25 (adults)
$20 (concession)
$15 (kids under 10 years)
Bookings: 0437 595 220, or monucs.committee@gmail.com

Graham Edmondson, MonUCS Honorary Life Member and co-founder of the Intervarsity Choral Festival, passed away last Sunday. A member of the Melbourne University Choral Society from 1944 until 1949, he, along with Colin Russell-Jones of Sydney University Musical Society were involved in the genesis of an idea of a joint concert between the two university choral societies, culminating in the first Intervarsity Choral Festival in 1949. The festival, now in its 62rd year, has enriched the lives of countless thousands of choristers, through singing, merriment and the formation of friendships and relationships between members of the university choirs from around Australia. More recently, he has been a feature at MonUCS rehearsals, with his cheeky grin never failing to impress the choristers. We will miss you Graham.
 

Laudate!

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If you wish to leave any tributes to Graham, the Edmondson family have made available a tribute site with the Herald Sun and AICSA have done the same at The Age

Graham’s daughter, JJ Edmondson has given the choir permission to publish the details of Graham’s funeral service below.
 
Funeral Details:

Date: 29 July 2011
Time: 10:30- 14:00
Location: Salvation Army Church
1 New Holland Drive
Cranbourne, Australia
(Followed by a light lunch at Clyde Fire Station)

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Much of the information in this obituary came from an article by Graham in Erato 82, published on September 1998 and available here