The Australian Girls Choir has been providing high quality Performing Arts education and wonderful performance opportunities to many thousands of girls from across the country for over 40 years.
Humble beginnings
The Australian Girls Choir (AGC) was established in 1984 by Judith Curphey OAM, with 150 girls rehearsing in four classes in the Melbourne suburb of Burwood and Judith as the sole tutor. The appeal of our unique approach to combining dance with choral music meant that it was not long before chapters of the organisation opened in other cities around Australia. Today we are proud to have 6500 girls learning to sing, dance and perform in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
“Every child can learn to sing…”
The founding philosophy behind the AGC is that every child can learn to sing given encouragement and training, and our dynamic and inclusive curriculum is designed to cater to varying abilities and confidence levels. Girls have fun, make friends and blossom musically and socially as members of the AGC.
“If a child can vocalise or speak, then they have the capacity to sing. By weaving music into the early years of a child’s life, we increase their musical aptitude and can set them on a course of a lifetime full of rich musical experience.” – Vicki King, Artistic Director
Engaging audiences all over the world
All of our senior performers begin their journey in our training levels where they learn to dazzle audiences, and many have gone on to entertain audiences around the world with their vibrant performances. The girls have shared the stage with a long list of outstanding artists including Pharrell Williams, Olivia Newton-John and on tour with Hugh Jackman, and have released several CDs including ‘Chasing Rainbows’ for ABC Music.
We have been honoured to perform at the official receptions for many dignitaries including President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II. Further afield, members of the AGC have toured on 39 occasions with their voices reaching almost every corner of the globe. An audience with Pope Benedict XVI, performance for the King of Tonga, UNICEF benefit concert at the Hanoi Opera House, the Shanghai World Expo and ‘G’Day USA’ Australia Week are just a few of our international accomplishments.
Representing the ‘Spirit of Australia’ for Qantas
There is no greater testament to our reputation than our selection by Qantas to represent the ‘Spirit of Australia’ in their highly acclaimed ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ advertising campaigns since 1998. The filming of the four major campaigns took place in spectacular locations around the world including a glacier in Argentina, a Massai village in Africa, amongst the Terracotta Warriors in China, and in the breathtaking Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory. We are delighted to have involved thousands of our girls in the filming of the advertisements and in live performances for Qantas during our twenty-year relationship.
We are fortunate to have had one of this country’s most inspiring women, and Australia’s first female Governor-General as part of our community since 2003. Over all these years and especially in her role as Patron of Girls from Oz (since 2014), Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO has encouraged us to be steadfast and strong. Recently, Quentin reflected on her relationship with AGC Founder, Judith Curphey OAM:
“One of the many joys of being Patron of Girls from Oz is the treasured friendship I share with Judith Curphey.
Known across our country as the Founder of the Australian Girls Choir, the much loved cultural gem in our world of choral music. Judith is admired, respected and held in the highest esteem for her unique contribution to enriching the lives of girls and young women; nurturing talent, building confidence and resilience, and opening opportunities.
Visionary, generous, progressive; a commitment and dedication shining through.
What an example and inspiration she brings to the arts and our community with warmth, sparkle and delight in art and beauty in all its forms.
Service, selflessness and accomplishment to celebrate a lifetime of giving, loving and sharing – with affection as we enjoy the glorious strains of our girls.”
We would like to invite our AGC, ASPA and g-oz community to join us in celebrating the life of Judith Curphey OAM.
📅 Thursday 4 December from 10.30am - 12.00pm
📍 Melbourne Town Hall, 90/130 Swanston Street, Melbourne
General admission free tickets are available to help ensure a smooth event - registration is required through link in bio.
No flowers please. If you wish to make a commemorative gesture then donations can be made to our charity partner @girlsfromoz via link in bio.
Judith was a co-founding director of g-oz and was deeply committed to making high quality performing arts education and life enhancing opportunities available to girls in remote parts of the country.
Nov 19
