AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING
ACT CHAPTER
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2012
The following is a report on activities for the year ending 2012:
The Committee was as follows:
President: Angela Giblin Deputy President: Phil Perman Secretary: Rosemary Lohmann Treasurer: Jenni Reeves Membership Secretary: Margaret Sim Committee: Judith Bauer, Heather Grady, Sarahlouise Owens, Norma Mackay, Theresa Rayner, Doreen Robinson, Helen Swan, Christina Wilson
The ACT Chapter Annual General Meeting for the year ending 2011 was held on Sunday March 18 at the home of Helen Swan. Many thanks to Helen for making her lovely home and music room available.
After the business of the AGM was concluded, Alan Hicks, Head of Voice at the ANU School of Music, and Christina Wilson, Lecturer in Voice at the School, gave a very interesting informal presentation, “Vienna Experiences”, on their recent visit to the famous Vienna Academy (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien) and particularly the Voice area. Christina and Alan have developed a series of reciprocal relationships with people and organisations in Vienna, including the other major tertiary music institution in Vienna, the Vienna Conservatorium (Konservatorium Wien), and distinguished voice teachers in the city. Young Canberra singers have been deriving great benefit from these arrangements, both through staff from these institutions visiting the ACT, and through study in Vienna.
A delicious afternoon tea followed, and was enjoyed by all.
The Pre-Exam Workshop was held on Sunday 20 May at Canberra Baptist church in Kingston. Sarahlouise Owens kindly agreed to adjudicate the event, and to give some advice as preparation for the examinations. The event was well attended, with participants bringing along many family members.
There were about 15 participants, and the age range was broad, from very young to more mature students, with many of the younger ones remaining for the whole session.
A Pre-Eisteddfod Workshop took place on Sunday 19 August, also at Canberra Baptist Church. It was well-attended, and the singers were able to perform before an audience of peers and friends. Participants were most fortunate in receiving informative and supportive feedback from Christina Wilson.
The Australian National Singing Eisteddfod was held in September, and was supported by a number of ANATS ACT members, among many others. The very capable adjudicators were Adele Nisbet for the Intermediate Sections, Open Sections and National Aria, Margaret Sim for the National Aria, Mary Tatchell for the Junior and Intermediate Sections, and Bill Stephens for the Music Theatre and Popular Sections.
The Singing Eisteddfod venue was the Albert Hall, which was in many ways an excellent venue (although a bit chilly!) It is a great boon to have all sessions on the same beautiful, central, venue. Standards were in general high, and there were some very fine performances from singers taking part in the National Aria. Long-term sponsors of the Aria, Dyesol, and Actew AGL, have come to the end of their sponsorship and at present great efforts are being made to secure new sponsors.
ANATS presented a Professional Development Day with Anne-Maree McDonald and Stuart Maunder AM, on 28 October, on Mastering the Magic of Musical Theatre. The venue was the Lingard Hall at Canberra Grammar School. Both Anne-Maree and Stuart are highly distinguished, and well-known for many fine performances and productions in music theatre and opera. The event gave both teachers and young performers a unique opportunity to learn more about teaching and performing in these genres. Themes included music theatre for young singers, contemporary music theatre, singing in the chorus, preparing for an audition or competition, classic music theatre (opera, operetta, G&S), and a short session of reminiscences, which included a completely impromptu and brilliantly entertaining performance by Stuart, as singer, and Anne-Maree, as accompanist, of Noël Coward’s “Mrs. Worthington”. We used caterers to provide lunch on the day, and we were very pleased with the results. However, given the calibre of the presenters, and the broad appeal of the topic we were disappointed with the number of attendees and decided to consider half-day attendance, and to plan for smaller numbers in future years.
We held our annual Christmas Party at the Weston Club on December 4, and we all enjoyed the chance to spend a relaxing and convivial evening with our colleagues.
At the recent Extraordinary General Meeting on March 10, the new ANATS Constitution was passed. The process has been long and complex, and we will await further developments on the implementation of the constitution with interest.
The 8th International Congress of Voice Teachers will take place in Brisbane from 10-14 July, at Queensland Conservatorium. This is the first time the ICVT has taken place in Australia, and the program promises an very exciting and informative conference.
I would like to thank my colleagues on the Committee for all their hard work during the year, and their enthusiastic and insightful contributions to our activities.
I would also like express our warm thanks to Members who have made their homes available for Chapter meetings during the year: Rosemary Lohmann, Phil Perman, Jenni Reeves, Margaret Sim, and Helen Swan.
Many thanks must also go to Martin Newman for his honorary auditing of our books.
Please see the books HERE.
Angela Giblin
President
ANATS ACT Chapter
