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Leichhardt Espresso Chorus

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Leichhardt Espresso Chorus
Background information
Also known asLEC
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresChoral music, Contemporary Australian art music
OccupationChoir
Instrumentca. 80 voices
Years active1998–present
MembersMusical Director
Michelle Leonard
Accompanist
Benjamin Burton
Website[http://www.espressochorus.com.au http://www.espressochorus.com.au

Leichhardt Espresso Chorus is Sydney’s contemporary choir, specialising in Australian art music for choir and orchestra. The choir has participated in the world premiere of 200 new compositions since 2002, having commissioned (or co-commissioned) 170 of these. Since its inception in 1998, LEC has prospered under the leadership of Artistic Director Michelle Leonard and has redefined the capacity of community choirs. They have collaborated with many other performers, such as Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and are the artist-in-residence at the Moorambilla Festival in New South Wales. In 2008 the chorus received the "Best Community Outreach" award in the inaugural Music in Communities Awards by the Music Council of Australia.

Background

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Based in Sydney's inner-west Leichhardt Municipality, the choir comprises over 80 singers, and performs three major concerts a year. Under the artistic direction of conductor Michelle Leonard OAM, the choir strives to stretch the boundaries of excellence in community music but does not restrict membership through auditions. LEC promotes choral music in its community, which includes strong links with western NSW and a tradition of mentoring children's choirs through joint projects. LEC also fosters new Australian choral music by commissioning local composers to produce new works and new arrangements of classics for particular events.

LEC collaborates with Australian soloists in producing its major concerts. Recent soloists include Craig Everingham (baritone), Paul Goodchild (trumpet), Simon Halligan (baritone), Christina Leonard (soprano saxophone), Billie McCarthy (vocalist), Nadia Piave (vocalist), Jane Sheldon (soprano), Dan Walker (tenor), Sally Whitwell (piano) and Narelle Yeo (soprano).

Significant recent collaborations with professional arts groups include:

Each December, LEC produces Carols on Norton, a free community Christmas concert staged in Pioneers Memorial Park, Leichhardt.

LEC also features Ristretto, a chamber choir.

Awards

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Commissioned works

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The Leichhardt Express Chorus is committed to the development of new Australian choral music. This involves commissioning new music and updated arrangements of classics for particular events (such as re-workings of traditional carols for the Carols on Norton Concerts).

Between 2002 and 2011 the choir commissioned or co-commissioned 53 new songs (as listed below) and 23 new arrangements (indicated by + in the list below). As part of its role as choir-in-residence at the annual Moorambilla Festival, LEC has also participated in the premiere of an additional 14 new songs and 1 new arrangement that were commissioned for that Festival.

Premiere Composer/arranger Name
2010
27 March Luke Byrne Such Country suite (5 movements)
David Basden The Birds
Andrew Schultz Simplify, Simplify
18 Sept Gerard Brophy Moorambilla Dawn
David Basden Ave Maria
2009
22 March Luke Byrne Immortal Beloved
Sally Whitwell She Walks in Beauty
Sally Whitwell The Song of the Wandering Aengus
5 July Luke Byrne Salmos de Santiago
26 Sept Luke Byrne Back in My Day
Elena Kats-Chernin Baiaime's Ngunhhu suite (6 movements)
20 Dec Dan Walker What Can You See?
2008
5 April Dan Walker Seven Deadly Sins suite (7 movements)
21 Dec Billie McCarthy I Love Christmas
Sally Whitwell Lute Book Lullaby
Sally Whitwell Hodie Christus Natus Est
2007
6 May Dan Walker + Weep No More (David Childs)
25 Aug Christopher Gordon You Dead Kings Rising
Marco Creazzo Beyond the Sea
Meredith Hope Deep Waters Rising
16 Dec Billie McCarthy Almost Christmas Day
2006
17 Dec Billie McCarthy Billie's Song
Marco Creazzo + The First Christmas
2005
17 Sep Dan Walker Coutts Crossing
Michelle Leonard* Across The Plains (*Arranged: Marco Creazzo)
Paul Jarman Ride The Spirit (Co-commissioned with Coonamble Shire Council)
Michelle Leonard + Bellambi (Matthew Doyle)
Michelle Leonard + Drought/Paint Up (Matthew Doyle)
Michelle Leonard + Shall We Dream (Michael Atherton)
Michelle Leonard and Marco Creazzo + Sailing In The Boat (Trad)
Michelle Leonard and Marco Creazzo + Din Din Din (Trad)
23 Sep Paul Jarman Narrabri (Co-commissioned with Narrabri Shire Council)
2004
4 Jul Marco Creazzo Ave Maria
12 Sep Joe Accario Volo del Palazzo
Marco Creazzo + Ride On (Christy Moore)
2003
Christia Mimmochi Silence is the Rock
27 Sep Dan Walker Freshwater suite (4 movements)
21 Dec Marco Creazzo + Away in a Manger
Marco Creazzo + Carol of the Drum
Marco Creazzo + Christmas Day
Marco Creazzo + Ding Dong Merrily on High
Marco Creazzo + Gabriel's Message
Marco Creazzo + God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Marco Creazzo + Good King Wenceslas
Marco Creazzo + Huon Christmas Carol
Marco Creazzo + Mary's Boy Child
Marco Creazzo + Noel Nouvelet
Marco Creazzo + Once In Royal David's City
Marco Creazzo + Silent Night
Marco Creazzo + Star Carol
Marco Creazzo + The Silver Stars
Marco Creazzo + We Three Kings of Orient Are
2002
15 Sep Paul Jarman Outback suite (5 movements)
+ A new arrangement of an existing work

Additional world premiere works

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As of March 2011, LEC has participated in the world premier of 91 new compositions. In addition to the 76 listed in the table above, the choir participated in the world premiere performance of a further 15 works that were commissioned for the Moorambilla Festival. These are listed in the following table.

Premiere Composer/arranger Name Commissioned by
2010
18 Sep Dan Walker Guardians of the Gorge suite (2 of the 3 movements) Moorambilla Voices
2009
26 Sep Dan Walker Yowie! suite (2 of the 4 movements) Moorambilla Festival
Ben Van Tienan Find My Way Moorambilla Festival
2007
14 Sep Dan Walker Songs in the Key of She suite (3 of the 5 movements) Festivals Australia
2006
16 Sep Dan Walker Songs in the Key of Bloke suite (3 of the 6 movements) Festivals Australia
Marco Creazzo + Love Me Sweet (Carl Vine) Moorambilla Festival
2003
14 Sep Marco Creazzo Moorambilla suite (3 movements) Moorambilla Festival
+ A new arrangement of an existing work

References

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