International Battle of the Choirs
Project Summary
This was a performance project for primary school students, crossing international and regional borders, in order to promote choral excellence and international goodwill. Utilising Penrith City Council’s ‘Sister City’ relationships with China, students from Yizhongxin Primary School, Kunshan, China, presented the world’s oldest form of opera, Kunqu, for school audiences at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre – and participated in an exciting choral ‘battle’ with 10 competing primary schools, whose conductors had undergone intensive training with Sydney Olympic conductor George Ellis. The competing schools, predominantly from the western Sydney/Blue Mountains region, presented a diverse mix of international harmonies and Australian favourites, with Penrith’s Jamisontown Primary School being crowned the eventual winners. Project partners included Penrith City Council, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, and Kunshan Municipal Government, China. The event will be hosted annually and will involve young performers from western Sydney, China, Japan and Korea.
Photos
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A student from Penrith City Council’s ‘Sister City’ Kunshan, China.
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