Acquitted:  2007

$15,000 Festivals Australia (auspice, coordination by Outback Arts)

The Moorambilla Festival of New Australian Music enjoyed its first of three years in Coonamble in 2006.  In March the Regional Arts Development Officer and Artistic Director Michelle Leonard travelled the region to audition primary aged boys.  Auditions were through schools including satellite auditions with Schools of Distance Education!  The result was 2 Regional Boys Choir Residency Camps including access to professional musicians and training, a cultural exchange program with Sydney boys, and a final performance at the Gala Festival Event.  Assisted by brilliant young composer Dan Walker, Marco Creazzo, and Michelle Leonard, The Regional Boys Choir performed an original 4 Movement Song Cycle with 3 Instrumental Interludes.  The highlight performance was an original piece performed with the Songs in the Key of Bloke choir.

The residency program involved two 5-day camps in August and September held at Baradine with the Regional boys Choir, Sydney Boys, and artists.  Activities also included National Parks and Wildlife bush walk and education session, lantern making with professional artists, and a presentation by John Gordon.

The Regional Boys Choir scholarship fund was coordinated and actively promoted regionally by Outback Arts who managed a database, fielded enquiries, and assisted in identifying funding options and sponsorship strategies for boys.

Boys from Coonamble, Gulargambone, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Warren, (Outback Arts region) Coonabarabran, Baradine, and Sydney were represented in the choir.

With thanks to Peg Hartog (School of Distance Education), Richard Willoughby, Justine Lawler, Liz Markey for their supervision at the camps, Sydney parents and teachers, Michelle Leonard who, it should be acknowledged, generously donated her time to audition boys throughout the region, John Gordon (Coonamble Community Working Party chair), photographer Georgie Lampe, Baradine community for welcoming the choir, National Parks and Wildlife’s Paul O’Keefe, all parents and schools for their support, Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, Abbotsleagh School, media people who assisted by providing valuable coverage.