Annual Report 2021

2021
ANNUAL REPORT

Rachel Mink (soprano), Dan Walker (tenor), and AJ America (artistic director
and mezzo soprano)

VISION
To be leaders in ensemble singing, to give
voice to human experiences of all kinds
and ignite the imagination of our audiences
and artists.
MISSION
To deliver artistic and educational
programmes that showcase the full
expressive capacity of ensemble singing,
foster a future for our art form in Australia
and promote Canberra as a national centre
of music and culture.
WE SING ON NGUNNAWAL COUNTRY

CONTENTS
6
9
10
12
13
15
16
19
20
2021 Report
Luminescence
Chamber Singers
Luminescence
Children's Choir
Every Heart Sings
Camp LCC
Little Match Girl
Passion
Canberra
International Music
Festival
Vietnam Requiem
Holiday Program
21
22
23
26
27
29
32
34
35
Development Programs // Solo
Series
Luminescence in Lockdown
A Luminous Christmas
2021 in statistics:
repertoire and reach
Repertoire
Artists and staff
Board of Directors
Our supporters
Accounts

AJ America (artistic director)

2021 Report
AJ America
Artistic Director
Bronwyn McNaughton
Chair of the Board
2021 was a transformative year for Luminescence Chamber Singers. Following the
strategic planning processes that commenced in 2020, 2021 saw the appointment of
two new permanent artists to the Luminescence Chamber Singers, consolidating a core
ensemble of 5 voices. Bass Jack Stephens and soprano Rachel Mink have been
welcomed warmly by our audiences, and after 3 years of performing as an ensemble
that drew artists from across Australia, this represented a significant milestone in our
commitment to building an ensemble of professional singers who can grow together,
and develop a sound and shared understanding as we nurture a musical relationship
with one another and with our audiences.
In order to support the continued development of Luminescence Chamber Singers,
acclaimed conductor and artistic director Roland Peelman was appointed artistic mentor
to the ensemble in 2021. Luminescence has enjoyed a close relationship with Roland
since 2017. In addition to performing in numerous programmes as a part of Canberra
International Music Festival, Luminescence has collaborated with Roland on a number of
major projects and benefitted immensely from his time, expertise, and generosity. In his
role as artistic mentor, Roland worked closely with the ensemble for our 2021 Season
Launch and A Luminous Christmas, and offered advice to artistic director AJ America on
programming and planning throughout 2021.
Artistically, 2021 saw a number of highlights, including acclaimed performances of David
Lang's Pulitzer Prize winning work, 'the little match girl passion', and the return of 'A
Luminous Christmas', produced in partnership with the Canberra International Music
Festival. Both concert seasons featured record-breaking attendance, and the quality of
our work was recognised in Canberra CityNews when our season launch performance
was selected as the arts editor's 'top musical pick' for 2021.

In 2021 Luminescence developed a number of new out-reach, community, and
education activities. For the first time, we offered two non-auditioned opportunities for
children aged 7 -12. In April, children and families from across Canberra joined
Luminescence to perform 'We Are the Skywhales' and in June, Luminescence Children's
Choir hosted an inaugural Holiday Program - a promising new venture that offered
more than 30 young singers a chance to work with our artists for a week and get a taste
of life in the Luminescence Children's Choir. Luminescence Chamber Singers also
hosted a young artist program for the first time, working closely for a week with
emerging singers from the Australian National University vocal program, giving
workshops and collaborative performances with the ANU Chamber Choir, and recording
student compositions.
In April 2021, we welcomed Bob Prosser to the Board of Directors in the position of
Treasurer, and pursued a new phase of strategic planning, working with our artists and
board members to develop a new mission and vision statement, as well as key goals
and metrics for the years 2022 - 2025. This strategic plan places emphasis on
Luminescence's bold artistic vision and role as leaders in our artform, delivering
performance and educational programmes that showcase the full expressive capacity of
ensemble singing, and that helps to build a bright future for our artform in Australia,
and for Canberra as a national centre of music and culture.
Despite another year of COVID disruptions and a number of cancelled concerts, we
were proud to present more than 20 concerts, provide opportunities for 18 professional
artists and more than 60 children. We finished the year with a modest surplus in
addition to the significant reserves we have built over the past 5 years. We are pleased
with this financial outcome in another challenging year, and it is due in large part to the
generosity of our audiences, as well as support in kind from the Ainslie and Gorman
Arts Centres, and the contribution of the Embassy of Spain in Australia, who supported
the August performance of 'Canciones Populares'. Luminescence did not recieve
government funding for our 2021 programmes and activities.
That Luminescence Chamber Singers and Luminescence Children's Choir continued to
thrive in 2021 is a testament to the resilience of our artists and volunteers, the
commitment of choristers and their families, the quality of leadership shown by our
Board of Directors, and the generosity of our steadily growing audience. Our heart-felt
thanks to the artists, volunteers, directors, audiences, and supporters, for their
contributions during this period of growth and transformation for Luminescence, amidst
enormous hardship for the arts sector.
Bronwyn McNaughton
Chair of the Board
AJ America
Artistic Director

"Exquisitely refined
and perfectly human"
"This small ensemble of
singers shone brightly as they
offered delicate pearls of
music to prove the primacy of
the human voice as a musical
instrument"
Canberra CityNews, December 2021

Chamber Singers
Luminescence Chamber Singers is Canberra's premiere vocal consort. Led
by Artistic Director AJ America, the ensemble is comprised of five
professional singers whose experience encompasses chamber music, choral
music, consort singing, and opera, as well as folk song, art song, and
contemporary music. Active in Canberra for more than 6 years,
Luminescence has earned a reputation for presenting exciting and excellent
singing, typically performing unconducted and unaccompanied. The
ensemble maintains a busy annual program, presenting more than 100
concerts in the past 5 years.
Luminescence Chamber Singers perform a wide range of repertoire from
the Renaissance to the 21st century, and frequently premiere new music by
Australian composers, including composers from within their own ranks. In
recent years, Luminescence has appeared at the Canberra International
Music Festival, the Performing the Jewish Archives Festival, the Four Winds
Festival, and has collaborated with a diverse range of Australian
organisations, ensembles and independent artists. Luminescence works
regularly with conductor and director Roland Peelman AM, who serves as
artistic mentor for the ensemble.

Children's Choir
Conducted by AJ America, the Luminescence Children's Choir is a treble
choir for singers aged 10 - 17. The choir is dedicated to excellence in
performance and offers young singers in Canberra holistic and high
quality musical education, as well as the opportunity to perform at the
highest level. This ensemble champions the unique artistic capacities of
young voices.
Choristers receive comprehensive training in choral singing, musicianship,
sight-singing, theory, composition, as well as group and individual
master-classes and workshops, and regularly perform alongside
professional musicians. The Luminescence Children's Choir program is
designed not only to train the next generation of musicians, but to offer
choristers the skills and opportunities to express themselves as young
musicians, and foster a life-long love of singing and the arts.
Founded in July 2016, Luminescence Children's Choir performs regularly
at national institutions such as Parliament House, the National Portrait
Gallery and the High Court. The choir has toured to Hobart, Melbourne,
and Sydney, and performed at some of Australia's finest concert venues,
including Federation Concert Hall, Hobart Town Hall, Sydney Opera
House, and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Luminescence
Children's Choir has also performed at the Canberra International Music
Festival, and the Gondwana World Choral Festival.
In 2021 Luminescence Children's Choir was comprised of 20 of Canberra's
finest young singers aged 10 - 17. Despite the ongoing disruptions of
COVID-19 and associated lockdowns, the choir enjoyed a productive year,
including our annual camp, a series of online workshops, and regular
performances in Canberra. As the 'voices of the Skywhale children', the
choir was involved in an ongoing collaboration with the National Gallery
of Australia, artist Patricia Piccinini, and composer/performer Jess Green.
Luminescence Children's Choir also appeared in 'Vietnam Requiem'
(presented by Flowers of War), and was featured heavily in 'A Luminous
Christmas', presented in collaboration with Canberra International Music
Festival.

Luminescence would like to extend thanks to Pianist and Associate Artistic
Director Veronica Milroy, as well as Sight-Singing tutors Leanne McKean,
Patrick Baker and Elsa Huber, who once again made rapid transitions to
online learning in term 3, and enabled the Luminescence Children's Choir
to continue our program with as little disruption as possible during 2021.
Particular thanks is also due to volunteers Olivia Hobbs, Heather Hodgson,
and Maddi Scott, who have cared for choristers throughout the year.
“Luminescence has been the most remarkable experience for
our girls. It has tested their self-discipline, taught them to
listen and to hear things they didn’t before, broadened their
cultural bearings, and cemented new friendships, both at
home and on tour - all while showering them with the
singular gifts that music brings.”
Luminescence Children’s Choir parent

In 2013, the Skywhale graced Canberra's skies in celebration of the city's
centenary. Created by Patricia Piccinini, the divisive hot air balloon sculpture
explores nature, family, evolution, and wonder, and has become something of a
Canberra icon. In 2021, Piccinini presented 'Skywhale papa' - a companion piece
to the Skywhale. In celebration of the skywhale family, the National Gallery of
Australia commissioned composer Jess Green to write a new musical work, 'We
Are the Skywhales'. Luminescence Children's Choir was delighted to be featured
in this work, first as a part of the pop track, which was recorded in collaboration
with the National Gallery of Australia in late 2020.
In early 2021, Luminescence Children's Choir worked with Jess Green to create a
choral version of 'We Are The Skywhales', which the choir performed at three
dawn Skywhale flights between January and April 2021. Over the course of three
flights, Jess Green, her band Pheno, and Luminescence Children's Choir
performed for nearly 10,000 Canberrans. Luminescence also performed the
choral version of 'We Are The Skywhales' at National Gallery of Australia's family
day reading of Piccinini's new picture book.
During 2021 and 2022, the Skywhale family are embarking on a national tour,
which will feature recordings of Luminescence Children's Choir.
EVERY HEART
SINGS
Every Heart Sings Launch | 7 February
Canberra Day Flight | 8 March
'Come and Sing' public workshops | 31 March
'Come and Sing' performance | 3 April
Luminescence Children's Choir with Jess Green, Patricia Piccinini, and Skywhalepapa

CAMP
LCC
Camp LCC | 5 - 8 March
Greenhills Conference Centre
Hosted during March amidst the natural surrounds of Greenhills Conference
Centre, Camp LCC provides an opportunity for choristers to immerse
themselves in music, participate in workshops, masterclasses, and intensive
rehearsals. This time together is a centrepiece of our annual calendar and is
crucial to developing and maintaining strong musical skills and a close bond
within the the ensemble.
In 2021, choristers participated in a workshop with composer and pianist Sally
Greenaway in which they explored the history and defining characteristics of jazz
music and vocal scat. They composed and arranged their own music, and
rehearsed for a number of future projects.

Jack Stephens (bass)

little match girl
passion
penance and remorse
tear my sinful heart in two
here, daughter, here I am
I should be bound as you were bound
all that I deserve is
what you have endured
my penance
my remorse
my penance

"haunting, and beautifully sung."
Canberra CityNews
In our first 'Easter' offering since 2015, Luminescence Chamber Singers
presented David Lang's Pulitzer Prize winning 'little match girl passion'.
Based on Andersen’s 1845 tale, Lang's work tells the sad story of a young girl
who freezes to death, selling matches on the street on a cold winter's night. In
an effort to keep warm, she basks in the small, hopeful glow of her matches,
imagining scenes of warmth, comfort, and safety. As each match burns out, her
visions vanish. Where traditional Passions urge us to recognise Jesus’ suffering,
Lang asks us to see the suffering all around us; suffering that takes modern and
secular forms. This is a passion as much about the absence of compassion as it
is about suffering itself. It is about the boy who stole her slippers, the father who
would beat her and, above all, those that pass-by the shivering child on the
street. The Little Match Girl Passion was preceded by a set of 16th and 18th
century music that explored the neglect of onlookers in the face of anguish,
including multiple settings of 'O Vos Omnes'.
Luminescence Chamber Singers performed 'little match girl passion' to critical
acclaim and sold-out audiences in Canberra, as well as at the Hume
Conservatorium in Goulburn. We would like to thank Music For Canberra for
generously loaning us percussion instruments for these performances.

CANBERRA
INTERNATIONAL
MUSIC FESTIVAL
"subtle virtuosity, [...]
brilliantly articulated" Canberra CityNews
In 2021, Luminescence Chamber Singers returned to the Canberra International
Music Festival for the fifth consecutive year, performing in two festival events,
'Far and Near' and 'Mozart Recomposed'. 'Far and Near' presented new works
composed during 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. In 'Mozart Recomposed',
Luminescence joined with the Australian Voices to perform Gordon Hamilton's
new 'recomposed' Mozart Requiem, in which he gives Mozart's sketches the Max
Richter treatment to cast a contemporary light on a classic work.
"This is a work that must be heard live. Its depth and incredible
orchestration and arrangement with its amazing colours blended the
sound of the old and new in a magical way." Canberra CityNews

Choristers describe their experiences performing with Luminescence Children's Choir
"Before you're about to sing the first piece, you take a
breath in and think - here it goes, we're about to start
making music!"
"As soon as you start singing, all
the tension is released and you're
just enjoying the moment"
"For me, it's the easiest way to
show the universe who I am"
"You feel like you've
achieved something
really big"
"You can just tell the whole vibe of
the place is alive... because of music!"

"a truly magnificent performance"
Canberra CityNews
Vietnam Requiem | 5 June, Llewellyn Hall
Vietnam Requiem | 6 June, Llewellyn Hall
Led by conductor and director Chris Latham, the Vietnam Requiem brought
together many of Australia's leading composers and performers to
commemorate the Vietnam war, and offer a moment of musical healing to those
communities directly impacted by the war. Each movement of this new work for
massed choir and orchestra was composed by a different Australian composer.
The performances in June 2021 featured Luminescence Children's Choir, in
collaboration with Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Chamber Choir, and
a wide array of soloists, including William Barton (didgeridoo), Minh Le Hoang
(guitar), Slava Grigoryan (guitar), and Paul Goodchild (trumpet). Luminescence
Chamber Singers soprano Rachel Mink was featured as a soprano soloist
alongside soprano Susannah Lawergren. More than 2000 people attended
Vietnam Requiem over two performances, including a significant contingent
from the Vietnamese community in Australia and a large number of dignitaries.
VIETNAM REQUIEM
The Vietnam Requiem was supported by the Australian War Memorial

OF MICE
AND
MOZART
Holiday Program
"A wonderful experience that is
etched in my son's heart and mind"
Holiday program participant parent
Holiday program | 28 June - 2 July daily
Holiday Program Gala Concert | 3 July
In 2021, Luminescence Children’s Choir hosted our first Holiday Program. This
6-day workshop invited singers aged 7–12 to explore their voices, the magic of
singing together, as well as the life and music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Led
by Artistic Director AJ America and members of Luminescence Children’s Choir,
the week culminated in a performance of Jill and Michael Gallina’s musical Of
Mice and Mozart, which marries Mozart melodies with clever rhymes to tell the
story of Mozart’s life from the perspective of the mice who lived in the woodwork
of Mozart’s house. Twenty-six children participated in the inaugural LCC Holiday
Program.
'The program was fun and enjoyable for my child'
80% strongly agree; 20% agree
Holiday Program Feedback Survey
'The quality of performance exceeded my expectations'
60% strongly agree; 40% agree
'Musical expectation and activities were appropriate'
80% strongly agree; 20% agree
'LCC Holiday Program was well organised,
communication from Luminescence was
clear, and Luminescence staff were helpful'
80 % strongly agree; 20% agree
'I would send my child to another LCC program'
60% strongly agree; 40% agree

Sublime Voices | 6 August
SIDEBYSIDE
Side By Side is a new initiative aimed at offering development opportunities for
emerging singers in the ACT. In 'Side by Side', four young artists from the
Australian National Univsersity School of Music joined the Chamber Singers for 2
workshops, rehearsing music by William Byrd, Caroline Shaw, and Sally Whitwell.
During the same week, the Chamber Singers facilitated a workshop for the ANU
Chamber Choir. The week culminated in 'Sublime Voices', a free public
performance featuring Luminescence Chamber Singers, the SideBySide singers,
and the ANU Chamber Choir, led by Tobias Cole.
SOLOSERIES
Populares Canciones | 25 June
In 2021 Luminescence Chamber Singers announced a new line up of five core
artists. SoloSeries was a five concert series of solo recitals, designed to
celebrate this significant announcement by shining a spotlight on each of our
core artists. Each concert was curated by the artists involved.
The first instalment of SoloSeries was Populares Canciones featured Artistic
Director AJ America and guitarist Minh Le Hoang, and was presented in
collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in Australia. The remaining instalments
of SoloSeries were postponed due to COVID-19, and will be presented in 2022.
"delightfully sung by AJ America. She has a rich, pure
mezzo voice, [...] perfect in pitch, and confident."
Canberra CityNews

LCC Online
Like many of our friends and colleagues around the world, our 2021 programs
suffered significant disruptions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Travel
restrictions as well as local lockdown in Canberra in the second half of the year
forced a swathe of cancelled and postponed concerts.
While in lockdown, Luminescence Children's Choir hosted a weekly workshop
series online. Designed and delivered by Luminescence artists, these workshops
were made available to children across Australia as well as members of the
Luminescence Children's Choir. LCC online spanned a wide array of topics. With
Artistic Director AJ America, choristers traced the evolution of western notation,
learning about how we represent sound, how conventions about notation have
changed over time, and learning to interpret neumes and other historical forms.
Versatile vocal artist Alex Siegers introduced choristers to loop pedal
techniques, enabling chorister to layer their own voices and create a 'choir' all
on their own. Acclaimed repetiteur and pianist Ella Luhtasaari introduced
choristers to the International Phonetic Alphabet and its uses for singers. Rachel
Mink (soprano) and Leonard Weiss (conductor) introducted choristers to the
music of both famed and too-often forgotten female composers.
Through October, Luminescence Children's Choir remained online for a number
of weeks and began work on repertoire for 'A Luminous Christmas'. Live
rehearsals resumed on 1 November 2021.
LCC Online: Workshops
An Abridged History of Western Notation | 17 August
Presented by AJ America
Lockdown Loops | 24 August
Presented by Alexandria Siegers
IPA for Singers | 31 August
Presented by Ella Luhtasaari
Favourite Female Composers | 7 September
Presented by Rachel Mink and Leonard Weiss

Christmas
In 2020, Luminescence Chamber Singers and Canberra International Music
Festival collaborated to host A Luminous Christmas - a three day Christmas
festival. This event represented a significant expansion of our annual Christmas
with Luminescence concerts. In 2021, A Luminous Christmas returned, featuring
five performances in Wesley Uniting Church. Luminescence Chamber Singers and
Children's Choir were joined by conductor and Canebrra International Music
Festival Artistic Director Roland Peelman, and more than 10 guest artists.
Christmas Classics featured an expanded 12 voice Luminescence Chamber
Singers, Canberra International Music Festival Artistic Director Roland Peelman,
Luminescence Children's Choir, Elijah Lim (organ) and Andrew Blanch (guitar).
This program featured favourite carols from around the world, and the world
premiere of a new work by renowned jazz musician Jonathan Zwartz
Magnificat celebrated settings of Ave Maria and Magnificat by three major figures
in European polyphony, all sharing an important birthday this year: the Tudor
composer Robert Fayrfax, Michael Praetorius, who laid the foundation for
centuries of music in Germany, as well as Josquin Desprez, the celebrated ‘Prince
of Music’.
Guest artists Emily & Andrew in recital: twenty plucking fingers on beautifully
tuned strings made for a rare treat. Emily Granger, harp and Andrew Blanch,
classical guitar, performed ravishing music by Granados, Ravel, Pujol, Kats-Chernin
and Pereira.
From the whimsical to the witty, Love is Born featured carols old and new,
interwoven with the angelic sounds of Emily’s harp and Leunig’s most poignant
poems of the season.

"The singers enveloped the audience with
exquisite sound, in a mellifluous opening"
"Luminescence swept the audience
through the sublime and tender, delivering
music so beautiful and uplifting, in
glorious pitch-perfect polyphony."
Canberra CityNews , December 2021

2021 in Statistics
REPERTOIRE
75 8 8 31%
UNIQUE
WORKS
PERFORMED
BY
LIVE PERFORMANCES
21
WORLD
PREMIERES
VENUES
WORKS BY
FEMALE
COMPOSERS
AUSTRALIAN
COMPOSERS
All Saints Anglican Church
Wesley Uniting Church
Hume Conservatorium, Goulburn
Llewellyn Hall
Larry Sitsky Recital Room
Drill Hall Gallery
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
ARTISTS EMPLOYED CHORISTERS INVOLVED
18 64
Includes Luminescence
Children's Choir
members, Holiday
Program participants, and
Skywhale 'come and sing'
participants
AUDIENCES
912 3000+
Tickets sold
Live audiences

Repertoire
Johann Sebastian Bach
Wir eilen mit schwachen doch emsigen
schritten
Patrick Baker*
Carol
John Bennet
Weep O Mine Eyes
Benjamin Britten
Friday Afternoons
The Birds
William Byrd
Laudibus in Sanctis Dominum
Giovanni Battista Casali
Improperium expectavit
Pablo Casals
Nigra Sum
Alice Chance*
Fiat Lux
Jaret Choolun*
Disclosure II
Manuel De Falla
Siete Canciones Populares Españolas
Robert Fayrfax
Magnificat - O Bone Jesu
Gerald Finzi
I Praise the Tender Flowers
Michael Gallina
Of Mice and Mozart
Carlo Gesualdo
Merce! Grido piangendo
O Vos Omnes
Ola Gjeilo
A Spotless Rose
Jess Green*
Every Heart Sings
Franz Xavier Gruber
Stille Nacht
Gordon Hamilton*
Mozart, Recomposed
Jacob Handl
Ecce Quomodo Moritur Justus
Charles Ives
A Christmas Carol
William G James*
The Silver Stars
Paul Jarman*
Ancient City
Claude Le Jeune
Revecy venir du Printans
Elena Kats-Chernin*
Butterflying
David Lang
Little Match Girl Passion
Morten Lauridsen
O Nata Lux
Federico García Lorca
Canciones españolas antiguas
Claudio Monteverdi
Ah Dolente Partita
Voi pur da me partite
Jean Mouton
Ave Maria - Virgo Serena
Robert Parsons
Ave Maria

þorkell Sigurbjörnsson
Heyr himna smiður
Michael Praetorius
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Magnificat super (ut re mi fa sol la)
Josquin des Prez
Ave Maria
Illibata Dei virgo nutrix a 5
Pierre De la Rue
Miserere Mei
John Rutter
Angels' Carol
Christopher Sainsbury*
If I were a semitone
Sven-David Sandström
Hear my prayer, O Lord
Caroline Shaw
Dolce Cantavi
Paul Sjolund
Love Lost
Paul Stanhope*
Frosty the Snowman
Olivia Swift*
Siren Song
Ben van Tienen*
Some Days
Trad.
O Vos Omnes (chant)
James Valentine*
Goat in Rajastan
Charles Villiers Stanford
The Blue Bird
Beati quorum via
Tomás Luis de Victoria
O Vos Omnes
Animam Meam Dilectam
Giaches De Wert
Questi odorati fiori
Sally Whitwell*
Home
Jessica Wells*
Clouds
Lisa Young*
Here We Are
Jonathan Zwartz (Arr Peelman)*
Little Stars
Arrangements
Patrick Baker*
Dirty Projectors/Björk, On and Ever Onward
William G James, Carol of the Birds
Trad. Love Came Down for Christmas
Stefan Claas
Trad. Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
Bob Chilcott
Sussex Carol
Kraja
Nu är det synd
Roland Peelman
Trad. Tucuquerere
Trad. Patapan
We Three Kings
John Rutter
I wonder as I wander
Wexford Carol
Of the Father's Heart Begotten
King Jesus Hath A Garden
Dan Walker*
Summertime
Trad. Il est ne le divin enfant
Healy Willan
Huron Carol
David Willcocks
O Come All Ye Faithful
* Australian composer

Artists
AJ AMERICA
Artistic Director and Mezzo Soprano
AJ America is a performer, conductor and creative
producer. She appears regularly as a soloist and a consort
singer in Sydney and Canberra, performing with the Choir
of St James King St, Cantillation, Pinchgut Opera, and Vox
Plexus (Melbourne). She is a regular recital collaborator
with pianist Ella Luhtasaari, and a member of Ampleya - a
multimedia collaboration with pianist/composer Rasa
Daukus and visual artist Genevieve Swifte. AJ is founder
and Artistic Director of Luminescence Chamber Singers and
Children's Choir. She performs regularly with the Chamber
Singers and conducts the Luminescence Children's Choir.
AJ served as Founding Chair of the Board from
incorporation in 2015 until August 2019, and has recently
been appointed Deputy Chair of the Minister's Creative
Council for 2022 - 2023.
VERONICA MILROY, Soprano
Veronica Milroy has been involved in all aspects of
Luminescence from its inception. She was a founding
member of the Chamber Singers and a founding director
of the Board, serving as Treasurer for many years. She is an
experienced consort singer and educator, with over a
decade of experience across ACT, NSW and New Zealand.
In addition to performing with the Chamber Singers, she is
the pianist for the Luminescence Children's Choir, and
contributes to programming and rehearsals of both
ensembles.
DAN WALKER, Tenor
Dan Walker is one of Australia's most in-demand choral
specialists. He is a performer, conductor, and composer.
Dan has performed with Luminescence Chamber Singers
since 2018 and works often with Luminescence Children's
Choir as guest composer and conductor. Dan has had
works commissioned by the Sydney Symphony, Australian
Chamber Orchestra, Gondwana Choirs and Halcyon, and
has performed as member of Cantillation, Pinchgut Opera,
and The Song Company. He is the artistic director of a
number of local choirs, including Oriana Chorale and
Canberra Choral Society.

RACHEL MINK, Soprano
Rachel joined Luminescence Chamber Singers in 2021. A
singer-songwriter turned opera singer, Rachel enjoys
genre-bending work and is committed to accessibility in
classical music. In addition to performing with Luminescence,
Rachel is a 2021 Pacific Opera Young Artist, and a chorus
member of Victorian Opera. Her 2021 engagements include
Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Marzelline in Fidelio, Despina
in Cosí fan tutte, and Spirit in Gustav Holst's Savitri. In June,
she was a soloist for Flowers of War's Vietnam Requiem in
Canberra, where she premiered a new work by Elena
Katz-Chernin. Originally hailing from the USA, Rachel is a
dual master’s candidate in Vocal Performance and Musicology
at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland.
JACK STEPHENS, Bass
Sydney-born bass, Jack Stephens has worked extensively in
Australia and overseas as a soloist and ensemble singer. In
addition to performing with Luminescence Chamber Singers,
Jack is the Director of Music at St Paul’s College (within the
University of Sydney) and works as the Principal Lay Clerk at
St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir. Jack sings regularly with St
Mary’s Cathedral Choir and Cantillation, and is on the
Committee of the Royal School of Church Music NSW, in July
2019 organising their SydneyinSpires conference. He is
currently studying for a Doctorate at the Sydney
Conservatorium of Music, supervised by Dr Erin Helyard,
looking at Regietheater and its application to the staging of
Bach’s Passions and cantatas.
LUMINESCENCE CHAMBER SINGERS: GUEST ARTISTS 2021
Andrew Barley; Cody Christopher; Lucien Fischer; Andrew Fysh; Alexander
Gorbatov; Emma Griffiths; Adele Kozak
COLLABORATORS
Emily Granger (harp); Andrew Blanch (guitar); The Australian Voices, Tobias Cole
(conductor); Elijah Lim (organ), Sally Greenaway (composer), Ella Luhtasaari
(repetiteur), Alexandria Siegers (singer), Leonard Weiss (conductor)
ROLAND PEELMAN, ARTISTIC MENTOR
Born in Belgium, Roland Peelman has been active in Australia over 30 years as a
conductor, pianist, artistic director and mentor to composers, singers and
musicians alike. Since 2017, Luminescence has enjoyed a close relationship with
Roland, collaborating on numerous major projects. He serves as artistic mentor to
the ensemble.

LUMINESCENCE CHILDREN'S CHOIR 2021
Tessa Andrews, Hannah Appaneal, Axl Beeby, Amelia Bobbin, Ling Butler, Anjea
Byrne, Maiya Douglas, Mia Edwardson, Andriel Hernandez, Amira Hibberd, Jim
Hodgson, Elsa Latham, Paige Le Lievre, Mila Liu, Bryn Lymburner, Lucy Milner,
Sasha Sawczak, Nina Stachurski, Karl Smitz, Paul Wan
LUMINESCENCE CHILDREN'S CHOIR SIGHT-SINGING TUTORS
LEANNE MCKEAN
Leanne McKean graduated with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Vocal Studies at the
Canberra School of Music, ANU in 2003 and a Graduate Diploma of Education at
University of Canberra in 2005. She has taught in primary and secondary schools in
Australia, Scotland and England, in both the public and private sectors, She was appointed
Head of Music at St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls, London and then returned to
Canberra to take up the position of Head of Music and Director of Choirs at Radford
College, Canberra. She has been a member of many choirs, most notably Chandos
Chamber Choir, London where she regularly toured England leading evensong services in
places such as Lincoln Cathedral and Ely Cathedral. She also has a passion for community
singing and is currently the Musical Director of Canberra Mens’ Choir.
ELSA HUBER
Elsa is a young vocalist, teacher, and composer, studying a Double Degree of Music
(Classical Performance) and Arts (International Communication) at the Australian National
University. She is learning classical voice with Cheryl Barker and Peter Coleman-Wright.
Elsa recently performed as a chorus member in National Opera’s production of La
Clemenza di Tito, and she sings with the Canberra Bach Ensemble Choir, Kompactus
Youth Choir, and the ANU Chamber Choir. She teaches theory and aural with the ANU
Open School of Music and Luminescence Children’s Choir. Elsa’s first commissioned
original work was premiered in Melbourne in 2019. She also wrote and contributed to the
performances of six pieces for the 2018 Canberra International Music Festival. Elsa was the
recipient of the 2018 ANZCA Composition Prize (First Year), the 2017 St Mary MacKillop
College Creative Arts Award, and an ACT Organ School and Wesley Music Centre organ
scholarship in 2017 and 2018.
PATRICK BAKER
Patrick Baker graduated with a Master of Music Studies (Composition) from the Sydney
Conservatorium of Music in 2017, where he studied under Carl Vine. His music has been
performed both nationally and internationally, and he has participated in workshops with
some of Australia’s leading composers including Paul Stanhope and Stephen Leek. As a
singer he has performed with Luminescence Chamber Singers, Cantillation, Choir of St
James’ King St, as well as been a participant in SongCo Lab. As a composer, he has had
works performed both nationally and internationally, including radio broadcasts on
ArtSoundFM, Fine Music 102.5, and ABC Western Plains. Patrick was one of the Sydney
Children’s Choir Emerging Composers in 2015 and in 2017 was a composer for
Moorambilla Voices. He is regularly commissioned by varied ensembles, and has had
music performed by Woden Valley Youth Choir, Junior Gondwana, juice vocal ensemble,
and the Song Company amongst others.

Board of Directors
BRONWYN MCNAUGHTON, Chair
Bronwyn is a lawyer with both public and private sector experience. In the public
sector she has worked in legal, policy and parliamentary roles. In the private
sector, encompassing corporate and industry advocacy roles, her focus has been
on legal, compliance and regulatory, including 16 years as general counsel and
executive in a large financial services organisation where key responsibilities
included governance and board services. She is experienced in the strategic
design and execution of corporate governance, and board compliance and
accountability to regulators and the broader community. She is an enthusiastic
supporter of music and its performance.
BOB PROSSER, Treasurer
(Appointed May 2021)
Bob is a music lover and a frequent concert goer. He is an enthusiastic supporter of
Luminescence, having attended their concerts for many years. He neither plays an
instrument nor does he sing, much to everyone’s relief, but is a member of that
particularly important group known as the audience. Bob is an experienced Chartered
Accountant (FCA) and Company Director (MAICD), including being a member of the
Board of The Song Company from 2015 - 2018.
RASA DAUKUS, Board Member
Rasa is an award-winning composer, pianist and sound artist, whose experience crosses
the entertainment, financial services, higher education, community and arts sectors in
Australia and overseas. As well as creative practice, her career spans business, product
and strategic development, research and analysis, course design and delivery, event
management, production, marketing and operations. Senior roles across industries
include Product and Label Manager, International at BMG Entertainment (Sony BMG),
National Account Manager of Master Funds at Credit Suisse Asset Management, and
Director of Music at the University of Canberra. She has served as university lecturer,
subject convener and curriculum adviser, presenter, adjudicator, and on the board of the
Music Teachers' Association of NSW. Rasa is the owner and director of Music Classes
Canberra, which specialises in adult music education.

ADAM MAJSAY, Board Member
Born and raised in Sydney, Adam is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Over the past decade, he has built a strong reputation as a choral conductor, working
with both adult and school-aged choirs, including both auditioned and non-auditioned
ensembles. His investment in the development of Australian choral repertoire has led to
the commissioning of numerous new works. In addition to his role on the board of
Luminescence, Adam is the Music Director of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir and has
served as a member of the Australian National Choral Association’s National Council and
NSW/ACT Chapter, and on the management committee of Sydney Chamber Choir.
Adam is passionate about music and education, working as Deputy Principal at an
independent school in Sydney’s east, having previously been a Head of Music for many
years.
ELIZABETH MINCHIN, Board Member
a/g Secretary
Elizabeth Minchin is Emeritus Professor of Classics at the ANU, where, apart from
continuing her research projects and supervising postgraduates, she acts as curator of
the ANU Classics Museum and oversees the outreach and fundraising activities of the
Friends of the Museum. Her first career after graduating from Sydney University as a
secondary school teacher of languages ancient and modern. She subsequently
completed an MA and PhD at the Australian National University in Ancient Greek
literature and joined the Classics staff in the Classics Program (now the Centre for
Classical Studies) at the ANU. Elizabeth has taught the languages and literature of
Ancient Greece and Rome, helping students to appreciate why the literature of these
ancient cultures continues to be so influential, and has also enjoyed teaching classes in
social history. Elizabeth is an enthusiastic audience-member and supporter of a number
of music enterprises, both local and national.
AJ AMERICA, Founder and Artistic Director
AJ America served as founding Chair of the Board from 2015 - August 2019. She was a
driving force behind the transformation of Luminescence into a professional
organisation, and remains on the board in her capacity as Artistic Director.

Thank you
Our work would be impossible without the generous support of our partners and
patrons. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing support. We are immensely
grateful to the individuals who gave to Luminescence in 2021, as well as to the
Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres, Wesley Music Centre, and Canberra International
Music Festival, whose support in kind during 2021 allowed our activities to continue
during difficult times. We would also like to thank the Embassy of Spain in Australia
for their generous sponsorshop of 'Populares Canciones'.
$5000+
Lilon Bandler
Anonymous (1)
$2000 - $4999
Irena Nebenzahl
Anna and Bob Prosser
Anonymous (2)
$1000 - $1999
Jennifer Hershon
Elizabeth Minchin
Anonymous (4)
$500 - $999
Dorothy Broom
Cody Christopher
Anonymous (2)
$250 - $499
Anonymous (2)
$100 - $249
Angela Brown
Marlene Hall
Gertraud and Richard Cohen
Andrew Blanckensee
Paul Shelley
Anonymous (2)
$2 - $99
Paul and Betty Meyer
Helen Louise Sinclair
Johanna McBride
Jennifer Nicholson
Nina Stachurski
Sage S. Wang
Anonymous (12)
VOLUNTEERS
Luminescence relies heavily on volunteers who generously donate their time and
expertise. These volunteers help keep choristers safe and well, accommodate
interstate and touring artists, and record and photograph concerts. We'd like to
offer our heartfelt thanks to those who have helped this year, including:
Mary Colls, Olivia Hobbs, Kate Burt, Antoinette Perry, Stephen Beeby, Heather
Hodgson, Peter Hislop, Cody Christopher, and Maddi Scott.

Accounts
INCOME
Total income: $116,216
EXPENSES
Total expenses: $109,125
For a detailed financial report see: LCS Inc. Financial Report 2021

Luminescence Chamber Singers Incorporated
A Not-For-Profit Incorporated Association registered in the ACT.
Ainslie Arts Centre
30 Elouera Street
Braddon ACT
2612
Ph: 0401 770 130
Email: lcs@luminescence.org.au
http://luminescence.org.au
Facebook: facebook.com/luminescencesingers
Youtube: Luminescence Chamber Singers
Instagram: luminescencesingers
Photos: Hilary Wardhaugh, AJ America