HISTORY
The Keytones Choir is a dynamic and sociable Fitzroy-based community choir with a diverse repertoire including gospel, pop, classical, traditional African arrangements and Broadway standards. The choir began life as The Nurses Choir of Victoria, with assistance from the Australian Nursing Federation and the Royal College of Nursing Australia. The first rehearsal of the Nurses Choir took place at the Melbourne Citymission Chapel in February 1997, and with generous ongoing support from Melbourne Citymission, this venue has subsequently become our permanent rehearsal location (see Choir Membership for rehearsal details). In recent years, the choir has opened up membership to the general public and now numbers around 40 choristers from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions.
The Keytones are a non-auditioned choir led by a professional musical director (Jane Murone) and accompanist (Diana Winata). While the choir strives for an increasing level of excellence in performance, our emphasis is equally on having fun singing in a group. Highlights over the choir’s 12 year long history include performances at the Nurses War Memorial Commemorative Service (Canberra, 2001), with the Australian Children’s Choir (2002), in concert with Roma Waterman (2003), participation in the Australian National Choral Association Community Choirs Festival, (2005 – 2007) and the Swiss Italian Festa, Feast of Choirs, (Daylesford, 2008). The choir was the subject of a TV Documentary ‘Something to Sing About’, which screened on Foxtel Digital and Channel 31 (May – June 2006) and last year travelled to Hobart and had a wonderful time participating in the Festival of Voices.
ADMINISTRATION
The choir is administered by a committee of management consisting of the President (Rose Capp), Treasurer (Kate Wilson), Secretary (Maria Martin) and general committee members (Helen Lister, Jenny Shewan, Joy Wescombe, Anna Richards, Chris East and Anna Johnson). In addition to the Annual General Meeting, the committee meets four times a year to plan performances and other events including fundraising activities. The committee is appointed each year at the AGM and is responsible for selecting a Musical Director and Accompanist. As of 2004, The Keytones have been in the capable hands of Musical Director Jane Murone and Accompanist Diane Wijaya (see below for biographical details).
FUNDRAISING
In the years since it’s inception, the choir has received financial assistance from The Pratt Foundation, St. Vincent’s Public Hospital Melbourne, Cabrini Hospital and Friends of the Choir. Friends of the Choir has more recently morphed into Colleagues of the Keytones. For those who cannot sing or are unable for other reasons to commit to rehearsals, there is an opportunity to still be part of the choir by becoming a Colleague. Becoming a Keytones Colleague involves a modest annual outlay of $10.00 per individual or $100.00 per organization. There are many ways in which Colleagues can be useful, from assisting us with administrative tasks to involvement in recruitment drives and fundraising ideas and events. If you are interested in becoming a Keytones Colleague, please contact Anne Ferguson on 9481 1640 (h) 9288 3673 (w) or anne.ferguson@svhm.org.au.
In addition to paid appearances at events, the choir holds movie nights, organizes raffles and holds other fundraising activities over the course of each year. We are always exploring new fundraising options, and any new suggestions on this front are very welcome!
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Jane Murone
Jane Murone completed her Bachelor of Music (Hons) at the Australian Catholic University where she studied both piano and voice. During her university years, Jane studied conducting under Roger Heagney (OAM) and Dr. Geoffry Cox and was a Choral Scholar with the Australian National Youth Performing Arts Group. Other studies have included an Orff-Schulwerk program and various conducting seminars. Since completing her degree, Jane has worked at a number of schools as a piano teacher and accompanist. She has also worked as a choral trainer for a wide range of choirs, including the Australian Children’s Choir and various school and community-based choirs with participants ranging in age from two to eighty years.
Jane is also involved with local amateur musical theatre and is a voice trainer and chorus leader in annual productions at St Gabriel¹s Theatre Group in Reservoir. Jane currently works at St Columba’s College in Essendon as a piano teacher, choral conductor and accompanist.
Jane was appointed as Musical Director of the Keytones in March 2004. Her involvement with the Keytones enables her to enrich people with the joy of music, whether it be through singing at rehearsal or performing in concerts. She finds the commitment and enthusiasm of the choir inspirational.
Jane Murone - Musical Director
ACCOMPANIST
Diana Winata
Diana was born in Medan, Indonesian North Sumatra. She completed her Bachelor of Music at Melbourne University in 2003 and Graduate Diploma of Education, specializing in Music, also at Melbourne University. Diana completed secondary school in Singapore and then came to Australia for her higher education. She developed her piano skills in Medan, and was trained in the solfege approach. Diana is also a Suzuki-trained primary piano teacher. As part of the Graduate Diploma course, she has taught at the Kingswood College at Boxhill and is currently teaching at Gardenvale Primary School as a student teacher. She has been involved with the Church of Christ music ministry along with Jonathan and Janelle Adlawan (Musical Director and Accompanist for the Keytones in 2003), since 1999. Diana was appointed as The Keytones Accompanist in 2004 and she is passionate about music and teaching piano.
Diana Winata - Accompanist