University musical society prepares for harmonious national festival

Two major Brisbane concerts will be the highlights of the Australian Intervarsity Choral Festival program from June 30 to July 16.

The Verdi Requiem will be performed on July 8 at the Concert Hall of the Performing Arts Centre with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under former Queensland Conservatorium of Music director Roy Wales.

The Australian debut of Roxanna Panufnik's Westminster Mass, and a specially commissioned work by Matthew Orlovich will be performed in St John's Cathedral at a concert on July 15.

The annual national festival is this year being hosted by The Queensland University Musical Society (QUMS).

QUMS publicity officer Martin Beach said five years of planning for the event had produced a program "of musical revelry" and a variety of associated activities for the expected 150 participants.

"What began as an informal gathering for choristers from Sydney and Melbourne Universities in 1950 has evolved into a major celebration of music," he said.

The first week of the festival will be a camp at Bornhoffen, near Natural Arch on
the Gold Coast hinterland.

In the second week, the festival will be based in Brisbane under Michael Fulcher, QUMS conductor from 1987-92, who now works in Britain.

Bookings for the Verdi Requiem can be made through QPAT Dial n' Charge on 136246.

For further information, visit the website http://www.biv2000.aicsa.org.au or contact Mr Beach on 3895 8102 or publicity@biv2000.aicsa.org.au