Sweet sound of angelic teen spirit

Lyn Williams first founded Sydney Children’s Choir in 1989 and then Gondwana Voices in 1997. The inspiration she says, came from realizing what an incredible musical instrument a children’s choir could be. ‘It’s like being a violinist and wanting to get your hands on a Stradivarius. I wanted that musical instrument and realized that the only way to get it was to create it.’
[This is archived content and may not display in the originally intended format.]

Lyn Williams has just come back from 10 days of auditioning kids around the country, from the major capital cities to rural centres such as Rockhampton, Cairns and Armidale. She’s done skype auditions and watched videoed auditions from kids living in the middle of nowhere all keen to sing in one of her choirs. Over the next few weeks she will have to decide which of them will get into Gondwana Voices for 2012, Australia’s national children’s choir.

In January, the lucky ones will head to Sydney for National Choir School and close to half of them will be from regional and remote areas. ‘Can you imagine,’ says Williams. ‘… being a 10 year old coming to the big city for the first time to be surrounded by 300 young people who love singing as much as you do; when you’re probably the odd one out in your country town.’

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

Fiona Mackrell
About the Author
Fiona Mackrell is a Melbourne based freelancer. You can follow her at @McFifi or check out www.fionamackrell.com