Choral fest returns to mark 25 years

THE vocal sounds of the Ballarat Choral Festival are returning to St Patrick’s Cathedral this month.

After a four-year hiatus, the event will mark its 25th anniversary and launch on Sunday, 30 July at 1.30pm.

The free program of song is set to feature performances from 14 local and regional choirs of varying sizes, and music from the cathedral’s pipe organ, and is coordinated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Ballarat Ward.

“It will begin with a newly organised children’s choir, Ballarat Voices, made up of approximately 20 musically apt students from across schools in Ballarat from grades 4 to 9, directed by Lyndell Allen and Brooke Johnson,” co-organiser Margaret Lenan Ellis said.

“They will open with singing Wadawurrung Thank You to Country, and the program will close with the traditional practice of the choral festival of combining all the choirs of nearly 200 singers into one great unit to sing the finale song Hearts Around the World.

“A joyful way to end an afternoon celebrating the love of music and song. It promises to be a great program.”

Also listed on the bill of singers are Vincent Sully’s Cantate Domino, Ballarat Choral Society, Sweet Mona’s Choir, Buninyong Community Choir, The Ballarat Singers, St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, With One Voice Ballarat, the Ballarat U3A Chorale, and all-male group Ballarat’s Victoria Welsh Choir.

Three choirs will also be representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the Ballarat Ward Choir, a Tongan choir from Williams Landing Ward, and a Deer Park Stake Young Adult Choir.