About Us

ACU's National Choirs provide singers from across the nation with the opportunity to participate in various ways. The choirs are available to students, staff, alumni, affiliates, and community members. If you enjoy singing, you’re invited to enrich our University fabric and lift spirits through our ACU Choirs: another way to Connect, Create, Celebrate and Find Your Voice at ACU. Students based in Melbourne should join the dedicated Melbourne Choir group: https://aculife.acu.edu.au/ChoirMelbourne/club_signup

Students based in Melbourne should join the dedicated Melbourne Choir group: https://aculife.acu.edu.au/ChoirMelbourne/club_signup

2024: BIG SING for a BIG CAUSE

Performances in AUGUST in Ballarat and Melbourne (+ livestream). Tickets available here via HUMANTIX.com

Performance dates

Ballarat - Sat 24 August, 4PM, St Patrick's College, 1431 Sturt Street Ballarat

Melbourne - Sun 25 August, 3PM, St Patrick's Cathedral, 1 Cathedral Place, East Melbourne

If you wish to join the external choir, you will need to register separately here: https://streetrequiem2024.teamapp.com

ABOUT THE 'BIG CAUSE'

The “Cause” is homelessness and insecure housing. We will help support and perform alongside people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We will advocate and raise funds to support the urgent needs of ACU students, as well as contributing to service agencies/organisations in the wider community.

This quote explains further: “Instead of focusing on safety for our unhoused neighbours, the misperception that people without homes are perpetrators, rather than victims, of violence contributes to both criminalising homelessness and dehumanising people without housing.” (Kushel, 2022).

RELEVANCE: Census data (2021) revealed that 122,494 Australians are experiencing homelessness – an increase of 5.2% since 2016. “The average monthly number of people using homelessness services increased by 8% in the four years prior to to 2021-22. That's double the population growth rate over that period” [UNSW, 2022]. In Queensland, authorities noted the housing crisis and increases in homelessness (29% increase since Covid and 22% worse in 2023 than the rest of the nation) since the pandemic and in reaction to current economic and environment crises (Pengilley, V., 2022 and Ruddick et al., 2023).

ABOUT THE 'BIG SING'

THE MUSIC: “STREET REQUIEM – for those who have died on the street”, by Dr Kathleen McGuire (ACU), Andy Payne and Jonathon Welch AM, is a uplifting, multi-movement, contemporary cantata for community choir, vocal soloists and orchestra. Intentionally inclusive, it opens with an Acknowledgement of Country to recognise local Indigenous groups, then a Dedication sung in Persian or Arabic, evoking an Islamic call-to-prayer. World Music is included, such as Khoza and Zulu language, and Celtic folk music. The traditional Latin text is minimised, set alongside contemporary themes in English. The music incorporates a range of styles, from chant to popular idioms.

Since the world premiere at Melbourne Recital Centre (June 2014), STREET REQUIEM has been performed more than 30 times in several countries, receiving international acclaim. The most recent performance (Mornington Peninsula, 21 Oct 2023) raised $21,000 for direct services for homeless people.

PERFORMANCES

Ballarat: Saturday 24 August, 4PM, St Patrick's College, 1431 Sturt St, Ballarat

Melbourne: Sunday 25 August, 3PM, St Patrick's Cathedral, 1 Cathedral Place, East Melbourne