HISTORY OF THE ACT SINGERS INC.

The ACT Singers, formerly known as Opera Singers of Canberra, was a group formed in 1985 by Joan Richards at the behest of well-known singers and teachers, Eleanor Houston and Phil Perman. At that time, Canberra Opera Society had just disappeared from the music theatre scene in Canberra and local singers were left without any organisation to provide a platform for their work. This was the raison d'etre for the formation of the group.

Joan Richards conducted and led the group until 1988, by which time other organisations had developed and were seemingly going to take over the role of Canberra Opera, and it appeared appropriate to put the group into recess. However, in 1992 there was a popular request for the group to reconvene. This was done, and with Joan Richards once again at the helm, popular programs of opera, Gilbert & Sullivan and operetta were devised and performed.

Over the intervening years the group evolved from one which concentrated on concert version performances into one which will attempt anything from Beethoven to the Beatles - all singing, all dancing!

Since expanding the repertoire to include more contemporary music it was felt that a change of name was in order, and so, in 1996 the group was re-invented as the "ACT Singers". Incorporation followed and there is now a committee made up of between seven to ten financial members to keep track of the mundane organisational details.

ACT Singers Inc. presents two distinct productions per year with auditions being held prior to each. The first production is usually performed in May/June and the second in October/November each year. As well, there are sometimes special 'appearances' where the singers are requested to entertain at retirement villages or for fund-raising organisations. Frank Kornfeld, a long-standing member of the group, was instrumental in finding a permanent rehearsal and performance venue at the Austrian-Australian Club, Mawson.

1985-1993 - rehearsals of Opera Singers of Canberra held at Good Shepherd, Curtin with some also being held at Yarralumla Uniting Church hall - performances were held at various venues including Government House, Yarralumla.

1993/94-1994/95 - Frank Kornfeld was president - it was during 1994 that the group moved rehearsals/performances to the Austrian Club free of charge on the understanding that all Opera Singers members became associate members of the Austrian Club. Frank had been a member of the group for a number of years prior to 1993. He was a very generous member, supplying garage space at Fyshwick until as recently as 2004 for storage of music, costumes, props etc., manufacturing risers/stage pieces and providing trailerage to Yass each year where we performed for the Yass Music Society.

"Patience" performed at Yass 1995

14/6/94 - Terms & Conditions of Engagement came into being

24/8/94 - Draft Constitution prepared by Oliver Raymond. Proposal also that Opera Singers of Canberra become an incorporated association.

4/4/95 - Change of name from Opera Singers of Canberra Inc. to ACT Singers Inc. This was put to an AGM on 31/3/96 and ultimately registered with the Registrar General's Department mid-96.

Accompanists -

Lee Moore was with us from 1985 to her retirement at the end of 1996.

Noela Bermingham took over 1996/97 assisted from time to time by Susan Butler and Barbara Hall.

Adam Laslett joined us in 1997

Of the original members of Opera Singers of Canberra (aka ACT Singers Inc) the only ones currently performing are Pat Watson (a formation member), Penny Le Couteur and Sylvia Le Mesurier.". Phil Perman, Brenda Akister and Denise Stephenson (also original members of Opera Singers of Canberra) have not performed with the group for some time.

Hon. Life Members - It was felt that some recognition should be given to those members who had made a significant contribution to the group so the following were made Hon. Life Members -
Phil Perman
Joan Richards
Lee Moore (now deceased)
Frank Kornfeld

ACT Singers present "Life Membership" to Phil Perman

Left to Right - Denise Stephenson, Phil Perman and Rob Macaulay.

Our Favourite Things - a concert of songs from popular Broadway shows

at the Austrian Club November 2006

Broadway Memories November 2008 at the Austrian Australian Club

Directed by Michael Politi

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