The FAQ
What is Cantorion?
Cantorion is a graduates' choir at the ANU. It just got started last year (2004).
Cantorion is a small chamber choir of experienced amateur singers. We are affiliated, or in process of becoming affiliated, with ANU alumni, AICSA and ANCA. We also want to have a larger group of friends and supporters who may not sing often, but who want to keep in touch with each other.
Also, Cantorion is the Welsh word for "singers".
What does Cantorion do?
The performing group puts on concerts, and sings for events on request if we are available.We mostly perform for ANU and community events for no or very low charge, but would charge a fee for private gigs. We'd also like to have occasional social/musical events with the larger group such as attending concerts, hosting performance soirees, carolling, social sing-alongs (from AICSA choirs' songbooks) or anything else vaguely musical that our members feel like organising, but we haven't done many of these yet. We have had some fun carolling at Xmas in July feasts...
What does Cantorion sing?
Classical repertoire, mostly a capella, occasionally with a bit of percusssion and recorder accompaniment.
We sing the usual madrigals, motets and masses, and some much less usual. Think Victoria, Bach. Byrd, Monteverdi, Purcell, Gesualdo, Palestrina, Dowland and then throw in Rubber Duckie.
Why does Cantorion exist?
Because ANU has never had a grads' choir, and it's time.
Because other choirs at ANU are aimed at beginners, undergraduates, music students or the general community.
Because it was fabulous to catch up with old SCUNAe at the 40th anniversary dinner in December 2003.
Why do the URLs and mailing lists say "canu"?
Because when we got started we were called CANU. This is the Welsh verb "to sing". And it's shorter to type than "cantorion", makes a decent abbreviation, and would involve a bit of messing around to change that currently doesn't seem worth it..
Why did we change our name?
We changed it by request from the ANU Marketing and Communications department, who have a policy against using ANU in an acronym. We felt that a name was much less important than hapy relations with our university :)
We started in April 2004. We practice on Thursday evenings from 7-9pm.
For details of upcoming performaces, see our calendar.
At the ANU! Or St Phillips. Or wherever there's a concert on. Check that calendar.
Who can join?
We have a performing group, which is a subset of a larger group. The performing group will eventually be auditioned from interested members of the larger group. At the immediate moment, performing group membership is by invitation.
Any ANU alumnus is welcome to join the larger group. We also welcome ANU staff, former ANU staff, and alumni of AICSA choirs, from SCUNA to PUCS. We recognise that the intervarsity choral movement forms bonds that link people across universities and out into the wider community.
Who's conducting?
Andrea Charlton, formerly of SCUNA and Phoenix, among others. Andrea joined us in October 2004 and has seen us through several concerts with much good humour.We'd like to keep her as long as possible, but to make sure she doesn't burn out, we'd also be interested in having guest conductors for particular events and concerts. If you're an alumnus, ANU staff member or even a student with conducting skills, and you'd like to have a chamber choir sing for you, contact us! Be warned, we can't pay you....
Who can I contact with questions?
Email one of these people (swap @ for _at_ of course.)
Liaison Secretary:Belinda Ketley: purrfect _at _ webone.com.au (away until July 2006)
Admin Secretary: Cath Lawrence. Cath.Lawrence _at_ anu.edu.au
Concert Manager: Emma Kipling. Emma.Kipling _at_ health.gov.au
How do you pronounce Cantorion?
More or less as it looks. If you want a proper Welsh accent, use o as in "hot", not as in "or", but that's getting very picky.
How do I sign up for the larger group?
Email our admin secretary with your name, email address and a note of how you're connected to the ANU.
Or, you can just do it yourself. Go to http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/cantorionfriends to join. This mailing list is very low trafffic and just receives announcements of our gigs and social events.
How do I audition for the performing group?
Email our liaison secretary with your voice part, and describe your experience and connection to the ANU - we'd like to know who's out there! We're not currently taking on large numbers of new members, but we will probably want one or two extras, so don't feel discouraged. Tenors especially welcome, as usual.
How do I book Cantorion for an event?
Contact our concert manager and make a proposal.
The Cantorion website is proudly hosted by Watersprite as a community service.