President - Gillian King
Music has always been a core part of my life, whether as a student, teacher (piano, singing and musicianship), parent, performer, choral director (children’s choirs) or psychologist. My chorister days began as a young teen in a local church choir – St Patrick’s in Mt Lawley. We performed all the oratorios under the sun giving us all a wonderfully rich exposure to these works. Arthur Buss directed the choir and was also my first voice teacher (apart from my mother who was a piano teacher). When first joining UWACS in 2018, I was thrilled to learn that Mr Buss directed UWACS a very long time ago.
Past choral experiences include Collegium Musicum with Margaret Pride, University Chorale, as well participation in various small group ensembles. I am now also singing with WASO chorus.
I look forward to stepping into the role of President with great enthusiasm.
Vice-President - Jan Kirkman
I was very fortunate to grow up in a family where music was ever present and enjoyed. My mother was always a member of at least one choir at a time, sometimes two and my father’s family had frequent singsongs around the piano and listening to wonderful recordings of classical music. Also, growing up as a Methodist (attending the Floreat church we now use for our rehearsals) meant lots of hymn singing, with much gusto, in church. For me, singing has always brought lots of enjoyment.
However, UWACS is my first choir, joining in 2011. I must say I found it really challenging at first as my formal music education (piano) is quite basic, but I have learnt a lot more over the years with the help of extra programs provided by the choir, and our fabulous Conductors. Highlights have included the trip to Malta, partaking in a grand performance of Mozart in St Paul’s Cathedral, the tour to China singing four concerts in different cities, and our 90th Gala concert in 2021.
I first joined the UWACS Committee in 2015 and then stayed on for seven years, firstly as an ordinary member, then Vice President, President and finally Registrar. I recommend a time on the Committee for all choristers because you learn so much!
Here I am back again on the Committee as Vice President, hoping to contribute to the running of this marvellous choir.
Secretary - Rev. Reuben Edmonds
I have always enjoyed singing and participated in choirs during school. Now I sing the most during worship at church. I sang in the Wesley Uniting Church choir and since becoming a Uniting Church minister I really enjoy selecting hymns and encouraging a vibrant congregational singing experience during worship. Singing can be a powerful way to communicate our values.
I joined UWACS in 2024 after a couple of members attended a church event and after hearing me sing they encouraged me to join the choir. While new, I am excited to join the committee, and bring a different perspective and skill set.
Treasurer - Currently Vacant
Registrar - Currently Vacant
Publicity Liaison - Andrew Reavell
My first musical experience was as an eight year old when my father, himself an avid choral musician, decided I should audition for the choir of St Mary le Tower church in Ipswich in the UK. I continued to sing, first as a treble and later as a baritone for about ten years. During that time I also joined the Ipswich Choral Society and sang with them for a few seasons. After marrying my wife Lynda and starting a family, there were the odd times when I would perform in musicals at the new church we were attending. In 1981, we left the UK and settled in Perth and took a break from music for a few years, until my eldest daughter noticed an advert in the paper needing tenors and basses to audition for UWACS. The conductor was Ian Westrip and the concert was Bach’s St Matthew Passion. I have also sung with the WASO Chorus, the Georgian Singers and been part of an augmenting chorus for the Opera Company as well as a few musical theatre productions over the years.
I have been a member since 1990 having served on the committee previously for a period of about six years in various capacities until 2002, mostly involved with concert promotions and programme production.
It is my pleasure to be serving on the committee once more.
Concert Manager - Debbie Forbes
Singing has always been my passion. Over the years I have taken part in local talent competitions, eisteddfods, cut vinyl with a modern music group, sung in church choirs, performed a couple of times at the Sydney Opera House and more recently, sang in four cities in China.
In 1997, I immigrated to Australia from South Africa with my husband and two sons. With the demands of work and family life, it was only several years later that my search for a vocal group began. My brief was simple. I wanted to belong to a group of choristers who took their music seriously, were competitive and enjoyed performing.
In 2015, I discovered the UWA Choral Society and after a few minutes into my first rehearsal, I knew that this where I wanted to be. In 2020, after having performed in many concerts, I felt it was time to make a greater contribution and took up the position as Concert Manager.
I am privileged to be part of a great group of choristers and look forward to this challenging role and contributing to the ongoing growth and success of UWACS.
Librarian - Jenny Quek
I originate from Singapore and learnt the piano from the age of 7 and started choral singing with school choirs, church choir and onto choirs at the national level – the Singapore Junior Choir and onto the Singapore Youth Choir when I started travelling to international music festivals, the first being in Melbourne back in 1979! Choral and ensemble singing as a hobby was very much part of my life through law studies and a career in law (Singapore Symphony Chorus, Singapore Broadcasting Choir, acapella ensemble of 12 etc) until I migrated to Perth in 1996. Family life in Australia (with no domestic help) and a new career in real estate took over and there was a brief hiatus from very active choral activity to just a little participation in the church choir and starting a little children’s choir in church. 2015 was the right time for me to get back into it and I tried UWACS hesitantly and was won over by the practice sessions, the warm choristers and the talented conductor (then Chris van Tuinen). The recent 2019 China Concert Tour has brought about a great camaraderie within the choir and I’m now enjoying my time in UWACS more than ever under the baton of Kris Bowtell.
Rehearsal Venue Bookings - Bill Carr
I worked as a geologist and environmental scientist with industry and the Western Australian Government before retirement. Until recently I was involved with the monitoring of the rock art on the Burrup Peninsula.
I have a wide range of choral experience including:
- Perth Undergraduate Choral Society (UWA)
- Kalgoorlie Male Voice Choir
- Melbourne Philharmonia Choir
- Collegium Musicum
- Perth Oratorio Choir and
- Performing twice in the Sydney Opera House with Chorus Oz.
I first joined UWACS from Perth Oratorio Choir.
Communications Coordinator - Eunita Collins
Since a very young age I have always seemed to have a song running through my head as music was a big part of our family growing up.
Starting singing lessons with the pastor’s wife while at primary school (after working out I didn’t have much talent for playing the piano!) I found I enjoyed every opportunity to perform either solo or with a group.
During high school and at university (both in the United States) I furthered my musical education by continuing with my vocal coaching, being a part of several touring choirs in the 80s and 90s and completing a minor in music as part of my undergraduate degree. During these years I had the pleasure of being a part of some glorious music making, as we performed repertoire such as Handel’s Messiah, Rutter’s Requiem, contemporary church music, pieces from musicals, and a highlight for me was performing the role of “The Mother” in Gian Carlo Menotti’s one act opera Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Moving to Australia in 1994, I had a lengthy break in any involvement with choral work and it was a very conscious decision in 2018 to reconnect with my love of music. I was thrilled to audition and join UWACS at the end of 2018 and my esteem for the group and the music we create has just grown over the years. It is my pleasure to be a part of the committee and contribute to the choir in another capacity.
Ticketing - Joanne Hart
I joined UWACS in about 2011 when we did Verdi’s Requiem. I was raised around music and participated in many choirs growing up. I attended a UWACS concert several times before joining. Now I feel privileged to join in and find our many concerts with orchestra, organ and soloists a real thrill. I treasure the friendships I have made at UWACS and look forward to helping on the committee this year.
