Speeches
Wednesday, 08 October 2025
Reception to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Adelaide Chamber Singers
Rod and I warmly welcome you to Government House to celebrate 40 years of the Adelaide Chamber Singers, widely and justly celebrated as one of Australia’s leading chamber choirs.
The Singers’ performances have for 40 years now shown how powerfully the human voice can move and inspire audiences and, in repertoire from Renaissance masterpieces to new Australian compositions, how music can bridge centuries and cultures while remaining immediate and alive.
Rod and I have experienced this artistry firsthand - in 2023’s Adelaide Festival performance of Celestial at St Peter’s cathedral, in 2024’s There Will Come Rain, and at this year’s Adelaide Festival in Innocence, performed alongside the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the State Opera Chorus and most recently Sacred and Profane with the ASO, again at St Peter’s.
Each time we have been struck by how the singers – you - brought the music vividly to life, creating performances that were deeply moving and memorable.
Chamber singing is an intimate form of choral music, where every voice can be heard individually, while blending into something greater than the sum of the parts.
Chamber singing demands trust, listening, and unity - qualities through which excellence is nurtured, and through which performers and audiences connect, creating moments that stay with us long after the music ends.
Over the past 40 years, the Adelaide Chamber Singers have transformed our understanding of choral music.
You have commissioned and premiered more than 30 new works, giving Australian composers a voice and sharing our stories through music.
You have represented South Australia on the world stage, performing internationally and deservedly earning awards along the way.
Your collaborations are as remarkable as your repertoire, ranging from rock legends The Rolling Stones and Australian hip-hop icons Hilltop Hoods, to classical luminaries such as Greta Bradman and the Kronos Quartet.
Yet perhaps your greatest contribution is to local audiences, bringing performance of the highest quality to our home city.
The ensemble’s commitment to the future is equally strong.
Rod and I warmly welcome you to Government House to celebrate 40 years of the Adelaide Chamber Singers, widely and justly celebrated as one of Australia’s leading chamber choirs.
The Singers’ performances have for 40 years now shown how powerfully the human voice can move and inspire audiences and, in repertoire from Renaissance masterpieces to new Australian compositions, how music can bridge centuries and cultures while remaining immediate and alive.
Rod and I have experienced this artistry firsthand - in 2023’s Adelaide Festival performance of Celestial at St Peter’s cathedral, in 2024’s There Will Come Rain, and at this year’s Adelaide Festival in Innocence, performed alongside the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the State Opera Chorus and most recently Sacred and Profane with the ASO, again at St Peter’s.
Each time we have been struck by how the singers – you -brought the music vividly to life, creating performances that were deeply moving and memorable.
Chamber singing is an intimate form of choral music, where every voice can be heard individually, while blending into something greater than the sum of the parts.
Chamber singing demands trust, listening, and unity - qualities through which excellence is nurtured, and through which performers and audiences connect, creating moments that stay with us long after the music ends.
Over the past 40 years, the Adelaide Chamber Singers have transformed our understanding of choral music.
You have commissioned and premiered more than 30 new works, giving Australian composers a voice and sharing our stories through music.
You have represented South Australia on the world stage, performing internationally and deservedly earning awards along the way.
Your collaborations are as remarkable as your repertoire, ranging from rock legends The Rolling Stones and Australian hip-hop icons Hilltop Hoods, to classical luminaries such as Greta Bradman and the Kronos Quartet.
Yet perhaps your greatest contribution is to local audiences, bringing performance of the highest quality to our home city.
The ensemble’s commitment to the future is equally strong.
Through initiatives like Rising Voices, you mentor emerging singers and composers, ensuring that the next 40 years of Australian choral music will be as vibrant as the last.
Together, these achievements – your performances, collaborations, commissions, and mentorship - reinforce Adelaide’s place as a true choral capital, as befits a UNESCO Creative City of Music, where voices in harmony through artistry, education, and excellence create something extraordinary.
I acknowledge the Founder and Conductor Emeritus, Dr Carl Crossin OAM, whose artistic leadership until 2021 laid a foundation of excellence and vision, and Artistic Director and Conductor Christie Anderson, who continues that legacy today.
To the board, staff, donors, and supporters, thank you for your contribution to the group’s success.
To the Adelaide Chamber Singers, past and present: thank you for enriching our cultural life and reminding us, in every note, of the transformational power of music.
Rod and I wish you every success as you continue to bring your music to audiences here and abroad, including through your international tour next year.