The ACT Primary and Senior Concert Choirs are part of the ACT Instrumental Music Program. The choirs provide extension opportunities in choral singing for students in ACT Public schools. The Primary Concert Choir comprises students in years 4 to 6 and the Senior Concert Choir comprises students in Year 7 to 12. Both choirs rehearse for one hour each week after school. The choirs have been rehearsing in person since April 2022 after participating in 3 terms of remote learning through online google meets. The choirs have been invited to perform in high profile events such as the nationally televised Australia vs New Zealand Brumbies game, Parliament House 30th Anniversary as well as performing regularly at the National Eisteddfod, Step Into the Limelight, Wattle Day Citizenship Ceremonies and IMP Concerts.
The Choirs will be singing the following works at the Thursday Final concert for attendees:
Wadawurrung by Deborah Cheetham, Jessica Hitchcock and Corrina Eccles (ACT Primary Concert Choir)
Fly Away Home by Pink Zebra (ACT Senior Concert Choir)
The Sound of Our Home by Paul Jarman (Combined Concert Choirs)
The Choirs will be singing the following works at the Wednesday Evening Concert:
The Unicorn by Dan Walker (ACT Primary Concert Choir)
Adiemus by Karl Jenkins (ACT Senior Concert Choir)
A New Gondwana by Stephen Leek (Combined Concert Choirs)
Conductor:
Katharine Finlayson has been a primary music specialist teacher for 37 years. In 2011 Katharine received a National Award for Excellence in School Music Education. In 2016 Katharine was awarded the AKC in Primary Music and she also achieved Certification as a Lead Teacher with AITSL, renewed in 2021. Katharine is the Executive Teacher, Professional Practice for Music and the Arts for the Education Directorate, ACT. Katharine works with a large number of classroom and specialist music teachers, increasing their capacity to deliver Kodály based music education programs to their classes. Katharine established the ACT Primary Concert Choir in 2014 and the ACT Senior Concert Choir in 2017. Katharine is also the Vocal Director of Step Into the Limelight, the ACT Education Directorate’s Gala performing arts show.