A Chorus of Women began with 150 of us singing the lament for the people of Iraq that led the 7.30 Report on 18 March 2003, when Australia went to war.
Twenty years on, we are still singing up public wisdom. Peace, social justice and effective climate action are the matters of heart in our original songs, major productions and civic conversations.
News
Our 2022 Peace Prize
A Chorus of Women was awarded the ACT Chief Minister's Rotary Peace Prize on International Day of Peace, 21 September 2022. The Peace Prize is given each year to an individual or groupwho have contributed to a more peaceful community - locally, nationally and internationally.
Senior diplomats of 40 countries and representatives of the ACT Chief Minister and the Prime Minister joined Canberrans to witness the award during a ceremony at the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell in Nara Peace Park, Lennox Gardens. Read more on our News page.
Iraqi Ambassador Dr Bassim Altomma rings Peace Bell with the Chorus
photo by Genevieve Jacobs
National Congress of Women
A Chorus of Women took part in the 2-day National Congress of Women hosted by the Women's Climate Congress at Albert Hall, in Canberra on 11-12 September.
After a welcome to country by Ngambri Elder, Dr Matilda House, Glenda Cloughley introduced 'The Singing Hill' - a prophetic story about women at Parliament House from the early 1990s when Jo Vallentine was a WA Green's senator (see video in the next column).
The Singing Hill
Unknown to the dark suits shouting within
The women are returning ...
And the chanting is beginning
The humming has begun
-- from The Singing Hill by Dorothy Cameron (1990)
The Singing Hill - image Sally Blake
More News
Vale Will Steffen
A Chorus of Women is deeply saddened by the news of the death of Emeritus Professor Will Steffen.
Will was a wonderful communicator and climate scientist who made a big difference with his life. He leaves a profoundly regenerative heritage in the people he touched with his commitment and gifts for communicating as well as advancing the science.
He was a long-time, steady supporter of Chorus. Read more on our News page.
Shoulder to Shoulder in Heartache
16 December in Garema Place
A Chorus of 20 Women singing Shoulder to Shoulder in Heartache in Canberra.
We invited singing women to join us in support of all women facing gendered violence. Click the image to read the article from page 3 of The Canberra Times on Saturday 17 December.
Here you can read 'We stand shoulder to shoulder today' by Biff Ward. This is one of the great women's speeches, tracing the 50-year history of hope for 'a world without rape, a wolrd where sexual predation of any kind is an inconceivable act to the present 'moment of revolution'.
Upcoming Events
In 2023 ...
We've been singing out in the streets of our city for 20 years!
So we're having fun, tracking through our history of creating more than 100 original songs for hundreds of public events in more community collaborations than we can count. And we're planning a year of gathering everyone who's ever joined our storytelling and music-making to make a great chorus. Then we'll bring you our most moving memories and dreams.
In March, we're planning a return to Parliament House where we began.
In April, we'll be atop Mt Ainslie for the 13th lantern-lit Anzac Eve Peace Vigil.
In May we'll stage a big concert to re-tell our most loved stories and sing our most loved songs.
More to come.
EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE WITH US
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with other like-minded people and organisations. We have organised conversations, singing seminars, and have prepared artistic contributions to public events, as well as our own major choral works.
