AUSTRALIAN SINGERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15056, 27 July 1912, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN SINGERS.

PROPOSED TRAVELLING CHOIR.

[FROM CCE ow:: correspondent. J Sydney. July 20. A MOVEMENT is on foot with strong backing to send an Australian choir ou a tour abroad, which is to have- as its central stage a series of performances in London, beginning in June, 1913. If cadets and athletes can be sent on tour, why not a fine choir? The whole of the solo work will be entrusted to members of the choir, which will consist of 100 voices, although 120 singers will be selected in order to allow for sickness. Mr. Stanford Hobson, conductor of the Toowoomha (Queensland) Philharmonic Society, hits agreed to act as. conductor, and this surmounts a difficulty which two yearn ago was found insuperable. It is proposed to ask each member to contribute his or her quota to the expenses, and to receive pro rata from the financial proceeds of the tour. Should there be any applicant unable to comply with this condition but possessing a voice superior to those who are able to do eo the management will have the right to assist him, deducting the advance from his share of profits. A question which seems pertinent in these days of a good deal of talk about closer relationships is—Seeing that the choir will not be from only one city or State why not make it and call it an '.Australasian choir, and welcome into it some of tho fine voices of which New Zealand can boast? In other matters it, seems to bo recognised that Australasia and not only Australia should be represented in delegations to other countries from the southern lands of tho Empire.