University of Western Australia Choral Society

A Brief History of the University of Western Australia
Choral Society

1931-2006

On 8th December 1931 at the Assembly Rooms in Pier Street, Mr A.J. Leckie raised his baton to conduct the first appearance of the newly formed UWA Choral Society in  a performance of Stanford’s “The Revenge” and a selection of part-songs. There was no orchestra, Miss Elsie Watson accompanied the choir on the piano. In 2006 that same society will present a programme of three concerts including a Gala Performance of Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Vespers. In the intervening 75 years they have taken part in a vast range of works and are thus one of the oldest surviving choirs in Australia. The Society was the brain child of Mr. A.J.Leckie and Professor A.D. Ross. The Senate gave its blessing and a starting gift of £25. Professor Ross was the founding president and Mr. Leckie the Honorary Conductor and they took the society through its early years. There were outstanding events in this period. In 1932 Winthrop Hall was opened and the Society took part in the celebrations. In the years that followed it sang in concerts under such distinguished visitors as Percy Grainger, Dr. (later Sir) Malcolm Sargent , and Sir Thomas Beecham. In 1938, under Malcolm Sargent a combined choir including 70 members of U.W.A.C.S. took part in its first major choral work with orchestra, Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”. This was under the auspices of the ABC – a relationship that was to be significant in the choir’s development.

The war years proved difficult and in the late 1940s both Mr. Leckie and Professor Ross resigned from the choir. The choir went through an uncertain period but in 1952 the Senate appointed Mr. Frank Callaway as Reader in Music in the Faculty of Education. For the next 26 years under his leadership the Society flourished. In conjunction with the ABC and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra they were to give the first performances in Western Australia of such works as Vaughan William’s Sea Symphony, Beethoven’s Choral Symphony and Verdi’s Requiem. When the Perth Concert Hall was opened in 1979 the Society provided the choral forces to perform “A Choral Fanfare” specially composed by James Penberthy under a guest conductor, Tibor Paul. The cooperation with the ABC and their orchestra put the Society on a firm financial footing and they were able to offer to the University such gifts as a bronze bust of Percy Grainger, a portrait of Professor Callaway, new seating for the Winthrop Hall stage and, a tradition which continues to the present day, prizes for outstanding students in the Department of Music. In 1979 ill-health and increasing outside commitments forced Professor Callaway to resign. At the same time the close relationship with the ABC weakened and eventually ended. The Society was fortunate in that John Winstanley, who had come to Perth as the Head of Music at Claremont Teacher’s College, accepted the role of Honorary Conductor and remained in that position for the next seven years. In this period the Society had to develop entrepreneurial skills, organise its own concerts and hire its own orchestra. This presented substantial challenges but in 1981 on its Golden Jubilee they celebrated with three major concerts, Mozart’s “Requiem”, Verdi’s “Requiem” and a Jubilee Concert. In 1985 Mr. Winstanley’s final concert with the choir was Bach’s “Mass in B minor” with the Festival Chorus – a highlight for many choristers.

Under a series of conductors, - Roy Rimmer, Ian Westrip, Warwick Stengards, Prue Ashurst – the Society continued to perform both on its own and with other groups. In 1988 the University’s 75th anniversary was commemorated by a concert including a combined choir performing Walton’s “Belshazzar’s Feast” and Orff’s “Carmina Burana”. In 1989, as part of the Festival of Perth the choir took part in Berlioz’s “Requiem” under Louis Fremaux. 1991 saw the Society reach its own Diamond Jubilee with a concert in which Sir Frank Callaway, Mr. John Winstanley, Mr. Roy Rimmer and Mr. Ian Westrip each conducted an item. The occasion was marked by the presentation to the Music department of two basset horns for the University orchestra. The 1990s proved difficult years in that the Society was totally dependent on its own resources and the cost of presenting major works had soared. In spite of this music making continued with “Messiah” being presented not only at Winthrop Hall but also in Bunbury, Fremantle, Belvoir and at Leeuwin Estate Winery. The Festival of Perth (1991) invited the choir to participate in “The Axion Esti” conducted by the composer, Mikis Theodorakis – which involved singing in Greek! 1992 gave Perth audiences the opportunity to hear a more modern work, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Requiem” in the Concert Hall and the same venue was used for Elgar’s “Dream of Gerontius” the next year. In 1994 a group of choristers joined the World Festival Chorus in Verdi’s “Requiem” with Luciano Pavarotti in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Other works included Purcell’s “King Arthur”, John Rutter’s “Requiem”, Bruckner’s “Mass in E minor” and Bach’s “Matthew Passion”.

In 2000, John Beaverstock accepted the position of Musical Director. The pattern has emerged of three concerts a year and, on occasion, the choir has combined with Perth Oratorio Choir to perform Haydn’s “The Seasons” (2002), Handel’s “Israel in Egypt” (2003) and Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” (with PUCS and POC) (2004) were all high points. Following “Elijah” a number of choristers had the opportunity to join a combined international choir at Carnegie Hall in New York - a unique experience. It was decided that “Christmas Oratorio” by J.S. Bach should be alternated with “Messiah” at Christmas after a successful performance in 2003.

In 2006 we reached another milestone – 75 years of choral singing. In that time so many people have contributed and benefited so much – performers and audience alike. Let us hope that this great tradition continues and in 2031 UWACS can look back on a century of major contribution to the musical life of Western Australia.

Written by Judith Vella Bonavita
Choir Archivist and Librarian

Copyright © 2007 University of Western Australia Choral Society
Last updated February 2007