Ipswich City Council

Alchemy Street Choir

The Alchemy Street Choir is an inclusive community choir created in the spirit of the "Choir of Hard Knocks", and engages people from all walks of life including homeless people, people at risk of homelessness, disadvantaged people, and people with mental health issues.

The aim of the choir is to provide participants with a means of enjoyment, self expression, comradeship, and community engagement through music.

How to join the Choir

Choir membership is open to people aged 18 years of age and over living in Ipswich and the surrounding areas who have an interest in singing, and can access their own transport to and from the venue. We encourage people to attend a few rehearsals initially to see if the Choir would be of interest to them.

Venue - Ground floor Auditorium, W.G. Hayden Humanities Centre, 56 South Street Ipswich.
Rehearsals - Wednesdays from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm followed by supper
Cost - Free

For further information about the Alchemy Street Choir please contact Ipswich City Council's Community Development Branch on (07) 3810 6655.

Benefits

Joining the Alchemy Street Choir brings benefits to each person who wants to become involved. Some of the most important benefits may be non-music related and be more concerned with the development and wellbeing of each individual.

Music related:

Musical education
Choral training element
Performing at community venues
Radio broadcasts and recording studio experience

Non-music related:

Health benefits
Social inclusion
Self determination and regulation
Importance of teamwork
Improving self-confidence
Making new friends
Linking with community services to improve wellbeing and standard of living
Raising the awareness of homelessness and mental health in our community
De-stigmatising people with mental health issues

Current Repertoire:

Songs

Believe	As recorded by Josh Groban (From the movie Polar Express)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love	Freddie Mercury
Fire and Rain	James Taylor
Hero	As recorded by Mariah Carey
Lean On Me	Bill Withers
Stand By Me	Ben E. King
You Raise Me Up	As recorded by Josh Groban
You’ve Got a Friend	James Taylor
You’ve Got a Friend in Me	Randy Newman (From the movie Toy Story)

Christmas Carols

Deck the Halls
Good King Wencelas
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Joy to the World
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Six White Boomers
We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Upcoming Performances:

Event	Performance Time & Date	Venue
Springfield Community Carols Div 1	TBA pm Saturday 10 December, 2011.	Robelle Domain Springfield Place Sinnathamby Drive Springfield
Seniors' Christmas Party	9.45 am (pre-show) 15 December, 2011	Seniors' Christmas Party
Christmas Carols in the Mall	6pm Wednesday 21 December, 2011	Ipswich Mall

Musical Director - Thomas Keenan

"For me, the most essential experience I have gained across my career as a solo performer is the knowledge I have of singing technique, musicality and performance art; and the ability I have to work through my own anxieties to produce the best performances I am capable of producing. I believe that this lived experience stands me in good stead to pass the skills I have acquired on to others."

Thomas brings a wealth of musical knowledge and experience spanning over 20 years to his role as Musical Director of the Alchemy Street Choir. Commencing his singing career under the tutelage of George Hogg in 1990, he soon joined the Orpheus Chorale and was very fortunate to be a member of the Chorale in 1998 when it won all eight (8) of the senior choral items at the Queensland Eisteddfod in Bundaberg - the first and only time to date that such a feat has been achieved. On the retirement of Major Neville Hammond (ret.) in 2010, he was appointed Musical Director.

Thomas has established himself as a successful competitor in Eisteddfods and other singing competitions around Australia, as well as having performed in various concerts and musical productions, both as a professional vocalist, and in an amateur capacity.

Some of the highlights of his solo career are:

In the Scotland the Brave series of concerts he performed with the Queensland
Pops Orchestra around Australia and overseas. These concerts were recorded
by the ABC at the Sydney Opera House and were broadcast on both the ABC
and the cable television channel Ovation, as well as being produced as a CD
and DVD;
winning the Champion of Champions trophy at the Queensland Eisteddfod seven (7) times;
winning the Joan Sutherland Society of Sydney Scholarship at the City of
Sydney Performing Arts Challenge;
winning the Courier Ballad Contest at the Grand National Eisteddfod of
Australia in Ballarat, a prize that has been previously won by Dame Kiri Te
Kanawa and George Hogg;
Performing the roles of "Tevye" in Fiddler on the Roof and "King Arthur" in Spamalot! for Orpheus Productions; and,
developing the concept for, performing on, and producing the Mesato CD with Merilyn Hick and Sarah Sullivan.

Accompanist - Christopher Steinmuller

Christopher Steinmuller is studying a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Voice Performance (Tenor) at UQ. He is a three (3) time recipient of The Speech and Drama Teachers Association of QLD Presentation Award and has recently completed an Opera Program through Sound Thinking Australia.

Christopher has been very successful over a number of years with local and state eisteddfod, competing in Voice, Piano, Keyboard, Organ, Speech and Drama. He also has experience as a solo artist, large band ensembles and chorales, theatre, master classes, teaching musical theory, judging piano and voice.

Christopher is endeavoured to pursuing a career in sound engineering and vocal performance. He is also currently a choral conducting scholar through an audition based Brisbane community choir - 'Choral Connection' conducted by Aleta King.

Last Updated 3 Feb 2012 |

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