The Central Victorian Women's Choir Inc. was formed in 1999 by Christine Sass, our first Music Director, with Jane Thompson as Assistant Director. Since then the Choir has enjoyed the talents, skills and experience of Andrea Cozens, Linda Browne, Kirsten Boerema, Laura Dusseljee and presently, Anne Begg as Music Director. In 2004 the members decided to adopt 'Women of Note' as our performing name.
We have performed at a number of venues for private, corporate and community events in Bendigo, Central Victoria and Melbourne. Please contact the Women of Note Choir regarding availability to perform at your next event!
Women of Note is a non-auditioning, performing choir who meet weekly to share and enjoy music and friendship. We select music from near and far; singing traditional songs from around the world as well as classical, folk, popular music and more. We also find many creative and enjoyable ways of performing including a capella, accompanied with piano, percussion, vocal ensembles and soloists.
By networking with other groups and choirs across Central Victoria and Melbourne, we enjoy a variety of singing experiences and also organise and participate in a range of workshops to extend our musical expertise.
Membership. New members, aged 18 years and over, are always welcome so if you are interested in joining our Choir, please email the Secretary, Ros at: wonbendigo@gmail.com for further information.
The fees per year are $320 which can be paid in four installments throughout the year.
Since its inception in 1999 Women of Note has grown from strength to strength developing a reputation for outstanding performance. Accompaniment by a professional musician during rehearsals and at performances has contributed greatly to the quality of the choir’s development and confidence.
Prior to 2020 we were regularly heard at community events such as Relay for Life, Mia Mia Big Sing and Bendigo Health's Memorial Services. We were honoured to sing at the opening of Bendigo's premier venue Ulumbarra Theatre in 2015 and returned to perform there on 24 August, 2019.
Highlights of 2019 included celebrating the choir’s 20th birthday and hosting the choral spectacular, “Come to the Music”, in Bendigo in August, 2019. Choirs from Bendigo and across Victoria performed at St Paul’s Cathedral and Ulumbarra for a day of singing that moved both audiences and choir members.
Performances during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 were minimal, although the choir continued to practise from their living rooms at home, via Zoom. It took more than a global pandemic to keep this group of dynamic singers away from doing what they love best!
And Women of Note was back in full swing in 2022 with three public performances. We were among local musicians and singers invited by the Bendigo Art Gallery to entertain visitors to the Gallery for the very successful Elvis exhibition on Mother’s Day in May.
This was followed in December when WoN was one of four local and regional choirs to participate in Symphonia Choralis at Ulumbarra Theatre. This was a daytime music festival and Saturday evening celebration of choral music in a lead up to the performance of Beethoven’ 9th on Sunday. Also in December, the Choir sang a repertoire of carols and other well known songs in the Atrium of St John of God to celebrate the festive season with patients and staff.
More opportunities were created in 2023 to continue the highly enjoyable practice of collaboration and performance with other regional coral groups. May 2023 saw WoN and six other metropolitan and regional choirs deliver the second choral spectacular Come to the Music 2023 at St Paul’s. Each choir had solo space during the day to perform a short repertoire, while all combined in the evening to raise the roof! For this event WoN was led by Steph McCorkell, our guest Music Director for Term 3.
Following the success of Come to the Music, Grace Note singers from Essendon invited WoN to join in the celebration of their ten year anniversary at the Polish Marian Shrine in Aberfeldie. And to round off 2023, Women of Note was performed a repertoire of seasonal fare to The Rotary Clubs of Bendigo for their annual Christmas get together at the Lake View Hotel.
We are looking forward to 2024, and already well into planning a repertoire, and the logistics to get the choir to Hobart’s Festival of Voices in July.
Image: Ken Mann 2024
Rehearsals are held at The Salvation Army Hall, 65-71 Mundy St Bendigo, from 6:45 until 9:00 on Wednesday evenings during school terms. Women of Note has an inclusive policy of membership, no audition is required, and new members, over 18 years, are always welcome.
Join us!
Please contact our secretary for further information. Email Ros at: wonbendigo@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/womenofnote
Listen to us!
BENDIGO ART GALLERY PERFORMANCE, VIVA BENDIGO, MAY 2022
Love Me Tender https://youtu.be/U4qv9kLovHE
Unchained Melody https://youtu.be/MLMDoHoiX2k
Can't Help Falling in Love https://youtu.be/2EgI0Ibum8c
Touring
2013 - Ihlombe! Choral Festival, South Africa
2014 - Adelaide Performance with Illumina Choir
2015 - Serenade! Washington DC Choral Festival U.S.A.
2016 - Sing Aotearoa, Rotorua, New Zealand