Youth Choir Showcase

Dr Anthony Trecek-King is a highly acclaimed choral conductor, scholar, pedagogue, and media personality with a career spanning over 20 years. He is an active guest conductor and serves as a Resident Conductor (chorus) with the Handel and Haydn Society. Recognized for his ability to create moving performances that exhibit a surprising range of dynamics and depth of expression, Dr. Trecek-King excels at cultivating vocal and instrumental musicians at all levels. Through his collaborative rehearsal style, he bridges the gap between high art and humanity, captivating audiences while maintaining exceptional sonic quality.

Ensembles under his direction were integral to projects that have won a Pulitzer Prize (Madam White Snake, Zhou Long), received a Grammy (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Boston Modern Orchestra Project), and earned the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from Presidential Committee on the Arts (Boston Children’s Chorus). Dr. Trecek-King has worked with a variety of artists and ensembles including Leslie Odom Jr., Melinda Doolittle, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, The Houston Chamber Choir, Seraphic Fire, Keith Lockhart, John Williams, Gil Rose, Simon Halsey, Yo Yo Ma, and Roomful of Teeth. He has led performances in world-renowned venues including Boston Symphony Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York City, Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Sydney Opera House.

In addition to his conducting work, he is currently the host of the classical radio show “The Silent Canon” which airs on KNVO 90.7. He can also be seen on-air and online on the Emmy nominated WGBH television series Sing That Thing, and two TEDx Boston talks. He holds a B.M. in Cello Performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, an M.M. in Orchestral Conducting from the Florida State University, and a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from the Boston University.

He currently lives in the Boston area with his partner Melanie (of Thinking is Power) and their cat.

Brisbane Birralee Voices (BBV) is a choir for young people aged 12 - 18 who have a love for singing with others and a desire to create choral music of a high standard across a variety of styles. BBV, the signature children's choir of the leading choral organisation, Voices of Birralee, is acknowledged on home shores and abroad as one of Australia's finest children's choirs.

The program encourages young singers to develop their vocal technique and attain musical excellence. In addition to the excitement of achieving high artistic goals and the personal enrichment experienced by each member, there is an emphasis placed on the benefits of sharing their gift of music with others and the intrinsic value of music within society.

BBV enjoy performing at Voices of Birralee produced concerts and events, as well as in collaboration with professional arts organisations such as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Ballet and for community and various charity events. They are also featured as the children’s choir at Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s annual production of Spirit of Christmas.

Founder: Julie Christiansen OAM
Conductor: Jenny Moon
Accompanist: Justine Favell

Photo credit: Luke Monsour

Clarence City Children’s Choir’s mission is to nurture the love of singing in school-aged children.

Since 2012, Clarence City Children’s Choir has been providing a wide range of valuable experience to young choristers in southern Tasmania. The Choir has sung live on local radio and regularly performs in community events and celebrations such as eisteddfods, carol singing, the ABC Giving Tree launch, and the Festival of Voices.

Notable successes for the Choir include winning the Open Vocal Choir section of the City of Hobart Eisteddfod in 2019 and placing first in both the Vocal Group with Song and Action and the Junior Choral sections of the Eastern Shore Eisteddfod in 2018. In 2023 The Choir won the Year 8 and Under Vocal Choir section of the City of Hobart Eisteddfod. Clarence City Children’s Choir has been a guest choir at Tasmania Sings concerts (Festival of Voices) in both 2019 and 2020.

Image credit: Kate Denmead

Emmanuel College Vivace is the culminating vocal ensemble of the Choral Program at Emmanuel College (K-12 Christian school), situated on the beautiful Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. This dynamic vocal ensemble comprises some of the school’s most talented and committed musicians.

In addition to their extensive Choral experience, many of the students are also highly accomplished instrumentalists, composers, and dramatic performers. Indeed, they are immersed in every facet of the Emmanuel Arts Academy.

Following Emmanuel Vivace’s extraordinary experience attending the Golden Gate International Choral Festival in 2023, these students are thrilled to be attending this prestigious choral festival in Tasmania. After the challenging years of separation in the Arts, the students are delighted to come together in song with new friends from all over Australia and the world.

Conductor : Sally Lockett
Accompanist : Andrew Tuppen
Choir Manager : Jane Allen

Somerville Singers are a tour choir formed from non-auditioned, keen singers from the school’s large and extensive choral program. The students range from Year 7 through to Year 12. They have been preparing a varied program of repertoire ranging from classical through to pop and musical theatre and delight in performing whenever they can. This group takes members from Cantrice and Camerata, the two most senior ensembles at Somerville House.

The Somerville Singers are led by Mr Shannon Leonard and Dr Debra Shearer-Dirie.

Young singers in the TYO Tasmanian Youth Chorale rehearse challenging choral repertoire and have been regularly invited to collaborate with professional ensembles and sing live on radio, in addition to performing in TYO and community concerts. No auditions are held for this chorale and all participants and voice types are welcomed.

Unlike the instrumental ensembles, the chorales are not auditioned: all levels of experience are welcomed. If you love to sing, join them!

A key element of TYO’s offering is exceptional performance opportunities, including high artistic value collaborations with professional musicians. The TYO Chorales have particular opportunities in this space, experiencing tours and recording collaborations with professional ensemble Van Diemen's Band, as well as performing live on radio and at community events and festivals. All TYO singers have the opportunity to perform in at least three TYO concerts each year, plus community performances. These opportunities are an outstanding benefit of TYO participation and collaborations are particularly valuable to young people who may be considering a professional career in the sector.

Image credit: Kyna Hart

Young Voices of Hobart is a fun, inclusive choral program for young singers in the greater Hobart area. Founder in 2019 by Musical Director Aaron Powell, YVH is committed to providing an exceptional level of choral education and a strong focus on providing high level performance outcomes.

YVH is a regular performer at Festival of Voices, having appeared in the 2022 and 2023 Youth Choir Showcases and as a guest choir in the 2021 Young Tasmania Sings concert. Recently YVH has been invited to perform at a private event at MONA, the Australian Training Awards and the TMAG Festival of Children and Young People. In 2023 YVH also undertook their first interstate tour, performing in Melbourne with Young Voices of Melbourne and The Yarra Voices.

Photo credit: Alistair Bett