Iris Farrer, 14, and Eva Tarbox, 16, plus younger twin brothers Asher and Leo, 15, will join 1,000 young singers converging on Sydney to celebrate 30 years of Gondwana Choirs and Sydney Children’s Choir from July 15 to 21.
The new festival brings together singers from Canada, China (including Inner Mongolia), Estonia, France, Japan, Latvia, the USA, and around Australia to perform two gala concerts at the iconic Sydney Opera House and a series of performances at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Iris, whose twin sisters Maggie and Kate, 10, and Annie, 12, are also performing, says there have been lots of rehearsals but it is “so worth it”.
“It will be so awesome to hear the choirs from around the world and how they reflect their traditions as with ours,” Iris said.
Agreeing, Eva said: “We are all very excited and can’t wait to meet up with singer friends from Latvia, that we billeted before.
“Audiences will love the concerts since choral music offers something for everyone.”
Celebrating three decades, Gondwana began when Artistic Director Lyn Williams AM founded the Sydney Children’s Choir in 1989 and gave life to a new and distinctly Australian genre of choral music.
Ms Williams said: “This will be an opportunity to experience sublime young voices from across the world collaborating with wonderful Australian choirs.”
The festival begins with opening gala concert ‘Sounds of Australia’ at Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on Monday, July 15, at 7pm, with an all Australian line-up, then culminates with the ‘Sounds of the World’ closing gala concert on Sunday, 21, from 3pm, which boasts the greatest variety of choirs ever heard under one roof.
The festival program also features recitals, workshops, masterclasses and panel discussions.
For tickets and more info, visit gondwana-wcf.org.au
World best on song to wow crowd
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SEVEN young residents from Stanmore and Dulwich Hill are set to star in one of the greatest gatherings of international choirs.