Australian National Choral Association

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at ANCA. We wish you a joyful time.

17/12/2025

🎶 Calling All Choir Leaders! 🎶
The School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia, is conducting international research on the professional practices of group singing facilitators, with a focus on the mental health and wellbeing of your group members. Your insights will help the researchers understand the factors that contribute to a positive and supportive environment in group singing, and explore interest in training opportunities for facilitators in mental health and wellbeing.
⏳ The survey takes 10-20 minutes and is open to leaders of any kind of singing group from anywhere in the world.
👉 https://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/sing
Thank you for helping this team of researchers improve the wellbeing of group singing communities! 🎶🙏
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the research team:
[email protected]
[email protected]
(Ethics approved by UQ HREC 2025/HE001800)

14/12/2025

Closing on December 31st!! Get those pieces in now, composers!

📣 Now open: 1st ANCA Choral Composition Competition
• For emerging Australian composers
• Prizes include performance at Choralfest 2026, mentorship, and recognition
• Conference dates: 9–12 April 2026 in Djilang/Geelong, Victoria

🗓 Submission deadline: 31 December 2025

Ready to take your composition to the next stage? Learn more and apply here: www.deakin.au/ANCAChoralfest26

28/11/2025

Wondering if Choralfest is for you? ANCA National President Marianne shares why everyone who loves choral music: singers, conductors, teachers, accompanists, students, and community leaders will feel at home at Choralfest. This festival is for you. 🙌🎵
If you’re thinking about joining us in Geelong, this is your last chance to get the Earlybird rate! ⏰ Ends TOMORROW.
🎫 deakin.au/ANCAChoralfest26

28/11/2025

Hunter Singers director Kim Sutherland shares why Choralfest is one of her favourite events: the inspiration, the learning, and the incredible choral community 💛🎶

If you’ve been thinking about joining us in Geelong, now’s the moment ⏰ Earlybird ends SUNDAY!

Don’t miss your chance to save and be part of something truly special.

🔗 deakin.au/ANCAChoralfest26

26/11/2025

🎶 What is Choralfest?
Let ANCA National President Marianne guide you through what makes this event so special: the concerts, the workshops, the clinicians, the community, and why it’s such a highlight for Australia’s choral world.
Join us in Geelong and be part of the magic 💙
🎫 deakin.au/ANCAChoralfest26

24/11/2025

Thinking about Choralfest? Marianne (our fabulous ANCA National President!) has a reminder: Earlybird pricing won’t last forever 👀 If you know you’re coming to Geelong in 2026, now’s the moment to jump in and save!
🚗💨 deakin.au/ANCAChoralfest26

22/11/2025

What will I miss out on if I don't register for Choralfest? 🤔🤔

🌍 Singing in the Delegate Choir where you'll meet singers from around the country, led by international clinicians Catherine Fender and Gints Ceplenieks, and performing in the Finale Concert!

🎤 Singing in the massed youth or community choirs, with outstanding national conductors including Dr Elizabeth Scott.

🎼 Access to up to three keynote addresses, practical workshops, paper presentations, masterclass, panel discussions, covering a very broad offering of material from sacred, classical and contemporary styles, to composition and repertoire, singing technique, and vocal health.

🎟️ Admission to all feature concerts in Costa Hall across the weekend.

🤝 Invitation to the Welcome Event, to connect with other delegates and festival artists.

🎁 Official Choralfest satchel, lanyard, and merch to commemorate the weekend.

Register before 30 November and keep FOMO at bay: deakin.au/ANCAChoralfest26

19/11/2025

Why should I go to Choralfest 2026?

Because it’s made for people just like you, who love to sing!

✅ You’ll celebrate choral music in all its forms, from community choirs to world-class ensembles.
✅ Support ANCA’s biggest event of 2026 and be part of something truly special.
✅ Perform, learn, and grow through inspiring workshops and performances.
✅ Hear amazing choirs and conductors from across Australia and around the world.
✅ Pick up new skills, ideas, and repertoire to take back to your own choir.
✅ See choral music from new perspectives, with guest clinicians from France and Latvia.
✅ Meet and sing alongside passionate people who share your love of music.
✅ Catch up with old friends — and make plenty of new ones!
✅ Be part of the national choral conversation shaping where we go next as a community.
And most of all… celebrate the pure joy of singing together! 🎶

Register before 30 November: deakin.au/ANCAChoralfest26

17/11/2025

How do I get to Choralfest?

For those who haven't been there before, Geelong is a vibrant, attractive regional city about 1 hour southwest of Melbourne 🌅 It’s the gateway to the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula!

✈️ Avalon Airport is 26km from the Geelong City Centre with uber and taxi transfers
🚌 From Melbourne Airport take the Gull Bus with 18 hourly services daily
🚆 From Melbourne drive, train or bus an hour or so or take the Port Phillip Ferry
⛴️ From the Mornington Peninsula (Sorrento) take a Searoad Ferry
..and where do I stay?
We have partnered with several hotels for exclusive rates for registered Choralfest attendees, with discounts of up to 20%! 🚗 💨 Explore travel and accommodation options on the Choralfest website: https://web-eur.cvent.com/event/74a86a85-5151-42a4-9585-5cbc0659bc9b/accommodation---geelong

15/11/2025

One of our International Clinicians, Catherine Fender joins Choralfest 2026 to inspire and empower choir leaders and singers alike.

In her sessions, Catherine will share strategies for creating meaningful concert programs, preparing choirs for confident performances, and engaging audiences on a deeper level.

She’s bringing a wealth of tools, scores, and fresh ideas for every choir, from beginners to professionals.

🎟️ Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and sing together at Choralfest 2026! Register before 30 November to secure your special earlybird rate.
🔗 deakin.au/ANCAChoralfest26

12/11/2025

Our final issue of Sing Out for the year is here! We have features and articles from: Bunbury Men of Song, Joanna Drimatis at the Australian Music Centre, Kooskõlas Choir and Naomi Cooper Music, Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing Ltd - ANATS, Elizabeth Anderson from the Australian Chamber Choir, an interview with Emily Cox AM (Canticum Chamber Choir & Brisbane Chorale), Dr Chi Yhun Lo at Macquarie University, and Dr Debra Shearer-Dirié. Happy reading!

📖https://www.anca.org.au/commonfiles/anca/db_uploads/SingOut_Magazine_V42No3_Nov_2025_WEB.pdf