MCAA BULLETIN 7 AUGUST 2026
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I wish everybody the best for 2026 as choirs resume activities after the holiday break.
PERTH 2028 FESTIVAL
The Repertoire Selection Panel has completed its work recommending a provisional list of 18 songs (see last page). This list will be reduced to 16 songs, 15 to appear in the concert program and one that will be rehearsed by all participating choirs and sung as an encore. Your committee agreed to a slight change in parameters for song selections, viz one third from the immediate past festival (Adelaide), another third from festivals prior to Adelaide, and another third being songs not performed previously at a MCAA festival.
Brian Buckley (Wagga City Rugby Men’s Choir) has, once again, assumed the job of completing all copyright and licensing imperatives to gain permissions to perform the songs. The Committee thanks Brian for taking on this task once more. His experience and knowledge in this sphere have been invaluable.
Your choir has been contacted to advise the MCAA of the number of printed and digital copies of the 2028 Songbook that will be required. The MCAA would like to think that all member choirs will adopt the 2028 Festival Songbook as part of their repertoire over the next 2.5 years before performance date in Perth in 2028, i.e. each choir might order books for all choristers irrespective of the ultimate number who will participate in Perth.
A more precise number of Songbook orders will be sought in August 2026 but, at this time, Brian must have a reasonable approximation of numbers to quote for copyright and licensing purposes. Printed songbooks will be spiral bound as have proved successful in recent festivals. Songbooks have cost less than $20 each for the past two festivals and, once again, will be delivered to all choirs on a cost-recovery basis only. It is expected that Songbooks will be with all choirs by September 2026, two years ahead of Perth’s performance date.
Inquiries and research continue regarding the selection of the Perth Festival’s Musical Director. The Repertoire Selection Panel plans to have performance guidance notes prepared for the consideration of prospective MDs.
MCAA NEWSLETTER
Considerable interest was shown in the first MCAA Newsletter produced prior to Christmas. Many thanks go to John Spencer (Orange MVC) who took on the editor’s role. The next edition is expected to be distributed mid-April. All choirs are encouraged to take advantage of informing all other member choirs of your activities. The Newsletter is an attempt to broaden communication and camaraderie amongst the “chorister classes”. Please send reports and pictures to John Spencer at spannaman@me.com
NEIL FLEMING
President
22nd February 2026