Leichhardt Espresso Chorus is Sydney’s contemporary choir, specialising in Australian art music for choir and orchestra. The choir has participated in the world premiere of 200 new compositions since 2002, having commissioned (or co-commissioned) 170 of these. Since its inception in 1998, LEC has prospered under the leadership of Artistic Director Michelle Leonard and has redefined the capacity of community choirs. They have collaborated with many other performers, such as Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and are the artist-in-residence at the Moorambilla Festival in New South Wales. In 2008 the chorus received the "Best Community Outreach" award in the inaugural Music in Communities Awards by the Music Council of Australia.

Background Based in Sydney's inner-west Leichhardt Municipality, the choir comprises over 80 singers, and performs three major concerts a year. Under the artistic direction of conductor Michelle Leonard OAM, the choir strives to stretch the boundaries of excellence in community music but does not restrict membership through auditions. LEC promotes choral music in its community, which includes strong links with western NSW and a tradition of mentoring children's choirs through joint projects. LEC also fosters new Australian choral music by commissioning local composers to produce new works and new arrangements of classics for particular events.

LEC collaborates with Australian soloists in producing its major concerts. Recent soloists include Craig Everingham (baritone), Paul Goodchild (trumpet), Simon Halligan (baritone), Christina Leonard (soprano saxophone), Billie McCarthy (vocalist), Nadia Piave (vocalist), Jane Sheldon (soprano), Dan Walker (tenor), Sally Whitwell (piano) and Narelle Yeo (soprano).

Significant recent collaborations with professional arts groups include: 2010: Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney and broadcast on FOX TV; 2009: Love, Lust and Longing radio broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Sunday Live; 2007: Stomp, (supporting the Lost and Found Orchestra), Sydney Festival; 2007: Singing the Space, official opening of the Performance Space, Carriageworks; and 2007: Lulie the Iceberg, with Kageboushi Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company.

Each December, LEC produces Carols on Norton, a free community Christmas concert staged in Pioneers Memorial Park, Leichhardt.

LEC also features Ristretto, a chamber choir.

Awards 2006: New South Wales runner-up, ABC Classic FM Choir of the Year Award 2008: "Best Community Outreach", Music in Communities Awards, Music Council of Australia

Commissioned works The Leichhardt Express Chorus is committed to the development of new Australian choral music. This involves commissioning new music and updated arrangements of classics for particular events (such as re-workings of traditional carols for the Carols on Norton Concerts).

Between 2002 and 2011 the choir commissioned or co-commissioned 53 new songs (as listed below) and 23 new arrangements (indicated by + in the list below). As part of its role as choir-in-residence at the annual Moorambilla Festival, LEC has also participated in the premiere of an additional 14 new songs and 1 new arrangement that were commissioned for that Festival.

Premiere Composer/arranger Name 2010 27 March Luke Byrne Such Country suite (5 movements) David Basden The Birds Andrew Schultz Simplify, Simplify 18 Sept Gerard Brophy Moorambilla Dawn David Basden Ave Maria 2009 22 March Luke Byrne Immortal Beloved Sally Whitwell She Walks in Beauty Sally Whitwell The Song of the Wandering Aengus 5 July Luke Byrne Salmos de Santiago 26 Sept Luke Byrne Back in My Day Elena Kats-Chernin Baiaime's Ngunhhu suite (6 movements) 20 Dec Dan Walker What Can You See? 2008 5 April Dan Walker Seven Deadly Sins suite (7 movements) 21 Dec Billie McCarthy I Love Christmas Sally Whitwell Lute Book Lullaby Sally Whitwell Hodie Christus Natus Est 2007 6 May Dan Walker + Weep No More (David Childs) 25 Aug Christopher Gordon You Dead Kings Rising Marco Creazzo Beyond the Sea Meredith Hope Deep Waters Rising 16 Dec Billie McCarthy Almost Christmas Day 2006 17 Dec Billie McCarthy Billie's Song Marco Creazzo + The First Christmas 2005 17 Sep Dan Walker Coutts Crossing Michelle Leonard* Across The Plains (*Arranged: Marco Creazzo) Paul Jarman Ride The Spirit (Co-commissioned with Coonamble Shire Council) Michelle Leonard + Bellambi (Matthew Doyle) Michelle Leonard + Drought/Paint Up (Matthew Doyle) Michelle Leonard + Shall We Dream (Michael Atherton) Michelle Leonard and Marco Creazzo + Sailing In The Boat (Trad) Michelle Leonard and Marco Creazzo + Din Din Din (Trad) 23 Sep Paul Jarman Narrabri (Co-commissioned with Narrabri Shire Council) 2004 4 Jul Marco Creazzo Ave Maria 12 Sep Joe Accario Volo del Palazzo Marco Creazzo + Ride On (Christy Moore) 2003 Christia Mimmochi Silence is the Rock 27 Sep Dan Walker Freshwater suite (4 movements) 21 Dec Marco Creazzo + Away in a Manger Marco Creazzo + Carol of the Drum Marco Creazzo + Christmas Day Marco Creazzo + Ding Dong Merrily on High Marco Creazzo + Gabriel's Message Marco Creazzo + God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Marco Creazzo + Good King Wenceslas Marco Creazzo + Huon Christmas Carol Marco Creazzo + Mary's Boy Child Marco Creazzo + Noel Nouvelet Marco Creazzo + Once In Royal David's City Marco Creazzo + Silent Night Marco Creazzo + Star Carol Marco Creazzo + The Silver Stars Marco Creazzo + We Three Kings of Orient Are 2002 15 Sep Paul Jarman Outback suite (5 movements) + A new arrangement of an existing work

Additional world premiere works , LEC has participated in the world premier of 91 new compositions. In addition to the 76 listed in the table above, the choir participated in the world premiere performance of a further 15 works that were commissioned for the Moorambilla Festival. These are listed in the following table.

Premiere Composer/arranger Name Commissioned by 2010 18 Sep Dan Walker Guardians of the Gorge suite (2 of the 3 movements) Moorambilla Voices 2009 26 Sep Dan Walker Yowie! suite (2 of the 4 movements) Moorambilla Festival Ben Van Tienan Find My Way Moorambilla Festival 2007 14 Sep Dan Walker Songs in the Key of She suite (3 of the 5 movements) Festivals Australia 2006 16 Sep Dan Walker Songs in the Key of Bloke suite (3 of the 6 movements) Festivals Australia Marco Creazzo + Love Me Sweet (Carl Vine) Moorambilla Festival 2003 14 Sep Marco Creazzo Moorambilla suite (3 movements) Moorambilla Festival + A new arrangement of an existing work

References

Music in Communities Award 2008 – Winners Stories: Best Community Outreach award ABC Classic FM Choir of the Year Award Michelle Leonard interviewed by the Music in Communities Network Australian Stage review of the Lost and Found Orchestra performance, Sydney Festival 2007. Artreach article, December 2005

External links

Moorambilla Festival