Information current as at JANUARY 2019

Choir's Email Address: exec@mucs.org.au

Choir's Website: www.mucs.org.au

Vision statement / Artistic goals: MUCS exists to offer both students and interested members of the community the chance to learn and perform choral music in a friendly and relaxed environment, irrespective of age, experience or profession

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1939

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 100-150 Desired: 150-200

Musical Repertoire: Everything from major Baroque, Classical and Modern works in major symphonic concerts, to Christmas carols to university songs to madrigals to occasional recorded film scores or backing vocals for AFL Grand Finals, as well as smaller professional engagements

Musical Director: Andrew Wailes

No. of years in current post: since 1992

Previous musical experience: Widely regarded as one of Australia's leading conductors specialising in choral and symphonic choral repertoire; has been Conductor of Melbourne University Choral Society (MUCS) since 1992, Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra since 1998, Principal Guest Conductor of the Australian Classical Players Orchestra, Musical Director of the Box Hill Chorale (since 1995), a former Conductor and Life Member of the Monash University Choral Society, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Australian Children's Choir (since 1999); former Music Director and Lecturer of ACU St Patrick's Choir and Monash University's Viva Voce Choir; Guest Conductor of ensembles such as Chamber Made Opera, Lyric Opera of Melbourne; has been chorusmaster for groups including Kirov Opera, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Perth and Melbourne International Festivals, Australian Intervarsity Festival Choir (all states), Australian Youth Orchestra, etc; has appeared as Guest Conductor of orchestras including Orchestra Victoria, Camerata Academica Freiburg (Germany), Monash Chamber Orchestra, the Victorian College of the Arts Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Sinfonia, the Christchurch Sinfonia (New Zealand), Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Stonnington Symphony Orchestra, and has directed student ensembles at Melbourne University, Monash University, Australian Catholic University and the Victorian College of the Arts; a regular Guest Conductor of various orchestras and choirs at summer schools around the country; he has appeared with major choirs from the USA, Sweden, Canada, England, South Africa, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand as Guest Conductor; founder and Artistic Director of the Melbourne Festival of Children's Choirs, and is in demand throughout Victoria as a workshop leader, guest conductor and adjudicator; as singer, he has performed with groups such as Opera Australia, National Youth Choir of Australia, Past Echoes Early Music Group, IHOS Opera, various RSCM choirs, and numerous professional recording ensembles

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Victorian College of the Arts, Australian Classical Players, Australian Children's Choir, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Yale Glee Club, Southwestern College Concert Choir

Audition: No

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: New Student $30, Returning Student $55, Adult Concession $105, General Member $190

Ability to read music: Desirable but not necessary

Sight-reading ability: Desirable but not necessary

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Wednesday

Suburb: Parkville

Rehearsal venue: St Mary's College, Frewin Room

Off-street parking: Limited

Performance Apparel: Dinner suit for gentlemen, and all black for ladies

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 3

Av. No. of Performances/year: 3-4

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Hamer Hall, Melbourne Town Hall, St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne Convention Centre, St Paul's Cathedral

Examples of musical pieces performed: Messiah (Handel), A Sea Symphony (Vaughan Williams), Requiem and Great Mass in C Minor (Mozart), Melbourne premiere of Choral Symphony (Carl Vine), Requiem (Verdi), Ein Deutsches Requiem and Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) (Brahms), Carmina Burana (Orff), The Creation (Haydn), Symphony No 2 (Mahler)

Touring: Yes - Regional Victoria/Interstate/Overseas

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: One Committee runs the choir, the Executive are University of Melbourne students, other committee members are members of the choir

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes