Awe-inspiring music on offer

The West Gippsland Chorale and Latrobe Chorale have joined forces ahead of a combined concert at the West Gippsland Arts Centre on Sunday, November 25 at 3pm.

The first joint rehearsal for the two local chorales comes ahead of an awe-inspiring afternoon of music presenting “Symphonic Adiemus”, composed by award-winning contemporary composer Sir Karl Jenkins.

The chorales will be joined by the Heidelberg Choral Society and a 50-piece orchestra for this program, also featuring Giacomo Puccini’s “Messa di Gloria” with soloists Jeremy Kleeman (bass baritone) and Timothy Reynolds (tenor).

Timothy Reynolds has performed on the operatic stage in Europe, the UK, and regularly in Australia with Victorian Opera and Opera Australia. Jeremy Kleeman is a graduate of Victorian Opera’s Developing Artist Program and of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

Peter Bandy from Heidelberg Choral Society will conduct the Sunday afternoon concert.

West Gippsland Chorale musical director Simon Loveless is looking forward to this very special music event.

“The Jenkins work is a piece that could really excite the audience. He combines the grandeur of the symphony orchestra with the rhythmic drive of world-fusion,” he said.

The Heidelberg Choral Society was formed in 1920 and welcomed Peter Bandy as artistic director and conductor in 2011.

Peter is known for his extensive knowledge of many musical genres and has worked with varied orchestras from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet.

The Warragul-based West Gippsland Chorale, under the musical direction of Simon Loveless since 2012, has been enjoying mastering some of the complex concepts in “Symphonic Adiemus”.

Simon regularly challenges the choir to learn new material and to reach a high standard of performance, drawing on his own background as a performer, accompanist and advocate for choral music.

Similarly, the Latrobe Chorale, formed in 1986, has also been practicing hard in Morwell to learn and interpret this music.

Tickets are $45 for adults, $40 for concession and groups, and $20 for youth under 18.

For bookings or further information, contact the West Gippsland Arts Centre box-office on 5624 2456 or visit wgac.org.au.

Left: Preparing for the combined concert “Symphonic Adiemus” at the West Gippsland Arts Centre are (from left) West Gippsland Chorale’s Simon Loveless, Heidelberg Choral Society’s Peter Bandy and Latrobe Chorale’s Mary Mirtschin.At the combined rehearsal with concert conductor Peter Bandy, the two local choirs felt a definite sense of anticipation and buildup to this unique event.