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 Mebourne 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 35 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 Wijaya). 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 decade 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).
ADMINISTRATION
The choir is administered by a committee of management consisting of the President (Rose Capp), Treasurer (Margaret Lord), Secretary (Maria Martin) and general committee members (Helen Lister, Jenny Shewan, Joy Wescombe, Kate Wilson, 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. (For biographical details see Creative Personnel).
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!