Rosalind Carlson

About the Carlson Chorale

Home > About the Carlson Chorale

The Carlson Chorale was founded in Sydney by Rosalind Carlson in 1972 and is one of Australia's leading female choirs.  It is involved in competition, concert, charity and community work.  It has an extensive repertoire which covers a wide range of choral items from the light-hearted and folk idioms through to the more dramatic and intensive compositions.  These include some of the most challenging songs written for female choirs.  Those who hear them sing comment not only on their technical achievements, the manner in which they accomplish a beautiful blend of the varied vocal qualities, but also on the obvious enjoyment which the Choral members display in their singing.

As a youth choir, the Carlson Chorale was invited by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism to give performances in Israel and to sing in Bethlehem's Manger Square on Christmas Eve in 1979.  This invitation provided the Chorale the opportunity to tour not only Israel, but also Europe and England.  As a result, a four week concert tour was arranged to include the Holy Land, Budapest, Salzburg and London.  A number of Chorale members that toured overseas in 1979 are still singing with the choir today, more than 20 years later!

Over the years the Carlson Chorale has won numerous awards and honours.  It has been involved in film and radio work and has recorded extensively for the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), including programs for "Young Australia", "Music in Sydney" and "Music on the Hour".  Several works have been written specifically for the group, including "The Last of His Tribe" by Anne Boyd, "Four Aesop's Fables" by Edward Hughes, "Three Psalms" by Paul Paviour, "Uluru Dreaming" by Ruth Lee Martin, and "Still Your Fears Mary" by Miriam Hyde.  Rosalind Calrson has also composed a number of works for the Chorale such as "Psalms of Joy", "Hear the Angels Sing" and "Old Man Platypus".  The Chorale specialises in a cappella singing, especially works by Hungarian composers Zoltan Kodály and Béla Bartók. 

"Australian Sunrise" was recorded in 2002 in the magnificent acoustics of the Mount St. Benedict Convent Chapel, as was the Chorale's first CD, "Arcadia", recorded in 2000.  Since their release, "Arcadia" and "Australian Sunrise" have enjoyed regular airplay on both ABC and 2MBS-FM radio.  The works included on these CDs demonstrate the Chorale's versatility and its varied repertoire.  For more information on the albums, see the Carlson Chorale Albums.

Interest Points

1.  APRA Music Awards

2003 APRA - AMC Classical Music Awards Nominations - Vocal or Choral Work of the Year
http://www.apra.com.au/Comm/ClassNom.htm

Rosalind Carlson's "Hear the Angels Sing" performed on the "Australian Sunrise" Carlson Chorale CD was nominated for the vocal/choral award work of the year.  This Rosalind considered it to be a great honour to have her song nominated.  Rosalind wrote the entire lyrics as well as composing the music for this beautiful tranquil song. 

On the CD it is accompanied by flute and piano.

2.  McGraw Hill Education

From the Carlson Chorale's CD "Arcadia", McGraw Hill Education is including "Uluru Dreaming" in their publication "In Tune With Music" Book 2, 3rd Edition, by Ian Dorricott, for use in Australian High Schools.  An accompanying CD representing different units of music will be released with the book.  "Uluru Dreaming" by Ruth Lee Martin, sung by the Carlson Chorale, conducted by Rosalind Carlson will be part of the sound recording in the Australian Music Unit.

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