Happy New Teaching and Singing Year for 2006!
This is the fifth and final year for which I have the privilege of leading the NSW Chapter of anats.
Our Vice-President is again Carol-ann Bentley , Treasurer Robyn Wells , Secretary/VocalEyes Editor Jane van Balen, Members Secretary Judy Lindeman , and Committee members Stephen Baker , Kathleen Connell , Diane Hughes and Anne-Maree McDonald. Regional representatives are Margaret Balsom, Lilija Sile , Inge Southcott and Sussane Towers .
We are glad to welcome Genevieve Killalea to the Committee, but we say good-bye and a very special thank you to Pat Howes. Pat has decided to step down from the anats (NSW) Committee after 10 years as a very valued committee member. Pat became Secretary and Newsletter editor in Oct 1995 and ably represented NSW on the National Committee for several years. She organised a wonderful National Conference in 1998 and we appreciate her considerable contributions to the Association.This is an exceptional group of teachers and singers, who give much of their time and energy each year to anats. I thank them in advance, as you will see that there will be quite a bit of activity this year. With the exception of the HSC Workshop, the following dates are all under negotiation at the moment, but fairly firm. Please put them in your diaries.
HSC Workshop, Sunday 9 April, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith.
This is our first event of the year. After last year’s successful workshop in Penrith, we return to the JSPAC, and look forward to hearing as many young singers who are preparing for the HSC as possible. They will be given expert feedback on their performances and performance preparation. Brochures are enclosed with this issue of VocalEyes.
Autumn Workshop, Orange/ Bathurst , This workshop has been postponed to May 2005. Date TBC soon.
This workshop begins anats NSW’s intention to include professional development and masterclassing opportunities in regional NSW. This will be an opportunity to appreciate the excellent work of teachers and singers in Orange/Bathurst/Wagga and surrounds, and to strengthen professional networks.
Winter Workshop, Sydney , 8/9 July, TBC.
Our Winter Workshop has become the major Sydney workshop of the year. After last year’s very successful Mark Meylan Music Theatre Workshop, we will concentrate on a number of other areas of our work. Possible topics include technology in the studio, using backing tracks, diction for classical and non-classical singers, acting for singing, speech pathologists and singers, performance anxiety and young voice. There will be a very special surprise performance at cocktail hour on Saturday, 8 July. Be there!
anats National Conference, 5-8 October, Canberra .
This is our biennial opportunity to get serious about work and play! I’m sure it will be wonderful. Please come to Canberra and live it up! Teach-ins. A number of brave teachers are planning teach-ins with their colleagues this year. Those of you who attended Sussane Towers ’ Teach-in last year will know how useful and inspiring these can be. When your colleague calls and asks you to be involved, please respond positively! See her inspiring report on page 7 of this issue.
End of Year Workshop, November TBC.
There will likely be a function at the end of 2006. Please see further information as it becomes available. A final thought: “He could get at the universe hidden in any work, find the meter of a line, play the text, harmony and rhythm off one another, revealing the message that existed only in the tension among them.” (Richard Powers, The Time of Our Singing, 2003, p536). May all our singers be capable of this!I wish you an inspiring year, and one in which your students appreciate what you do for them!
Warmly,
Rowena Cowley
President, anats (NSW)