Overview
NYCA in Adelaide, 3-9 July 2010
Many of Australia’s best young singers will gather in Adelaide in July 2010, extending their skills through an action-packed week working with one of the world’s most experienced and energetic youth choral conductors. Guest Conductor Mike Brewer will lead NYCA on a week’s musical journey that’s bound to be exciting and challenging both musically and vocally.
NYCA choristers can expect to perform a wide range of repertoire including Australian and overseas composers, exploring new music and bringing new energy to familiar works. Highlight of the season will be the choir’s final concert at Elder Hall, the University of Adelaide, at which NYCA will demonstrate what a truly national choir can achieve with exuberance and commitment.
Conductor
Mike Brewer
Recognised as a leading figure in the choral world, Mike Brewer is in demand in Britain and around the world for vocal and conducting workshops and as a guest conductor. Each year he spends two months in Australia and New Zealand, and recent tours have also included the USA, Singapore, South Africa, Mexico, Venezuela and the Seychelles, as well as regular visits to Europe. He is adviser on world music to the International Federation for Choral Music, and assessor to Mexico’s choral program.
Mike’s special love is his work with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, of which he has been Musical Director since 1983. He also acts as consultant for over 20 prize-winning UK choirs, including the world famous girls’ choir, Cantamus. He has often served as adjudicator for the finals of the UK’s Choir of the Year and National Festival of Music for Youth, as well as international competitions. In 2008 he led BBC workshops for Last Choir Standing.
Mike Brewer’s books for Fabermusic include the best-selling Kickstart your Choir, Mike Brewer’s Warm-Ups!, Improve Your Sightsinging (with Paul Harris) and Fine-Tune Your Choir. ‘Hamba Lulu’, his set of African songs, is performed worldwide. Recently published by Faber are ‘Playpiece’, commissioned for the Aberdeen Festival, ‘Worldsong’, performed in the Schools’ Proms, and a second set of African songs, ‘Banua’. Mike wrote the song for the UK Olympic baton handovers in August 2008, and prepared conductors for its performance - it was sung in 27 city centres across Great Britain. He is a gold medalist double bass player and was a Churchill Fellow for 2002-3. He was honoured with the OBE in 1995.
Concerts
The evening of Friday 9 July will see NYCA in peak form at Elder Hall, the University of Adelaide. Details are still being finalised for further concerts in and around the Adelaide area - stay tuned for further updates early in 2010.
More information
Please download the 2010 NYCA season flyer or see our Auditions page. More information for participants is available in the FAQ for singers.
