By Emily Cvetkovic

The Australian Girls Choir was started by a lady called Judith Curphy in Judith started the choir believing that every child could sing and dance if given the right training and support. She started the choir with 150 girls in Melbourne and today there are over 3,500 girls learning to sing and dance in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.

I joined the choir in February 2011 at Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School in Ivanhoe and attend every Wednesday night for one and a half hours. I learn many songs and dances throughout the year. My teachers name is Miss Micalaf Since starting I have been involved in two concerts and have another one in June this year. I have fun, make lots of new friends and love singing.

There are many levels of the choir including: - Piccolo - Vivo - Allegro - Avanti - Prelude - Concert - Camerata - Performing Each level of the choir has it’s own uniform. I am in Avanti and we wear black dance pants and a magenta t-shirt with black shoes and socks. In the first six levels you are graded by singing skills and by your age and for the last two levels you must audition to be accepted into them. The girls are very talented.

In the performing choir the girls are invited to perform at many public events. Some recent events include singing for: - The Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne - Moomba Festival in Melbourne - Her Majesty The Queen in Sydney - President Obama in Sydney The girls also travel and perform overseas. Last year they toured and sang throughout America.

Photo’s of the girls with the queen and at The Australian Open

You may all know or remember The Australian Girls Choir for its involvement in the Qantas advertisements on television “I Still Call Australia Home”. Over 100 girls of the choir took part in each of these advertisements which were filmed in famous locations all over the world. The Australian Boys Choir also took part in it.

The choir has two major concerts every year. There is a Winter concert which is held in June each year and an annual concert which is held at the end of every year. The concerts are held in the Blackwood Hall at Monash University in Clayton. Prior to the concerts we have a Saturday all day rehearsal to make sure each of us know our part in the concert. All levels of the choir present their songs which have been choreographed and learnt throughout the year. All the choirs levels then join together for a massive finale. I was very nervous at my first concert, but now I look forward to them and enjoy performing in front of all our families and friends.

The choir is special to me and the community as it offers and teaches all the girls who attend in their local area: - confidence - a fun time - skills to perform in public - social skills and friendships and most of all doing what I like best SINGING AND DANCING.

- Emily Cvetkovic - You Tube - Google Images - Australian Girls Choir