Following the success of the Northern Choral Fest in 2022 and 2023, ARC is proud to present the Northern Choir Fest 2025 – a celebration of community and school choirs at Darebin Arts Centre and made possible with the support of the City of Darebin community grants.
Participation in this event is FREE for Choirs!
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR CHOIRS WILL CLOSE ON SUNDAY 30th MARCH. Places for choirs are strictly limited for this event so get in quick! Priority will be for choirs based in the City of Darebin, Melbourne’s Northern Suburbs, and for choirs participating in both workshops and performances.
To register your choir go to: https://forms.gle/cdSLxHdYttkbJrVY8
This year there are multiple ways that your choir can be involved.
- Choir Workshop ‘The Holy Grail’ (10.00am)
Our festival begins with a mass choir workshops led by the amazing ARC conductors Jane Murone with Beth Hughes. Choirs will participate in a range of vocal warmups and together learn The Holy Grail, by Hunters and Collections, in an arrangement made possible through the Australian Music Vault. All registered choirs will receive copies of this music (SAB) prior to the event and supporting online resources.
This piece will be performed in the showcase concert with all workshop participants later in the day.
2. Choir Rehearsal – Baba Yetu (11.45am)
Choirs will also have an option to be part of a multi choir performance of Baba Yetu (A Swahili adaptation of The Lord’s Prayer by Chris Kiagiri, written by Christopher Tin arranged by Roger Emerson and made famous by the computer game Civilisation IV) This piece is for interested choirs who are keen to learn this piece prior to the day and then attend a rehearsal and sound check on the morning of the Festival. You can listen to the piece – here https://youtu.be/IJiHDmyhE1A?si=BaqndV3V2QG5PGW1
Interested conductors can review this piece on request during the registration period. Choirs will learn the Soprano, Alto or Baritone Parts, ARC will arrange soloists for this performance. Licensed sheet music and part tracks will be made available to choirs upon confirmation of participants.
Pop Up Performances & Choir Showcase
Following the workshops, all participating choirs will be able to perform their own set in our Pop-up Performances around the venue and/or in the Choir Showcase Concert in the theatre that commences at 2.30pm.
All Choirs can choose to participate in workshops or performances or both!
In between there will be a morning tea & lunch break (drinks, snacks and coffee available at Darebin Arts Centre) with warm up spaces available to each choir, and sound check in the theatre to get you ready for the showcase (all sound checks will have scheduled times for choirs)
The performance time offered to each choir for pop-up performances around the venue and showcase will depend on the final numbers of choirs participating but is approximately 15 minutes per set.
Choirs will have access to a grand piano/full keyboard or PA system for backing tracks.
The afternoon Northern Choir FEST Choir Showcase will be open to members of the public and will be a ticketed event. Therefore, choirs will be able to invite family and friends. Choir members participating in the showcase will watch other choirs perform and will not require paid tickets.
Contact Amelia manager@arcappella.org.au or 0434356688 for further information