Choralworks Inc. committee
Val Kilgour MBA, President
I bring to the position of President some thirty years of middle and senior management experience in the engineering industry and defence industries and in tertiary education. I have held positions of Project Manager for major defence documentation projects and aircraft maintenance manuals, and in the tertiary education sector, I have managed projects ranging from major curriculum development initiatives, to tertiary admission procedures, Open Days and Graduation Ceremonies. As Manager, Publications and Marketing in a major University, I managed a budget of $1,000,000. In my Master of Business Administration studies I focused my research on leadership and learning. As a Consultant, I worked with large Associations such as the Helping Hand Inc. and the Community Housing Council of SA Inc. on issues of strategic management, leadership, and communication. I also ran my own Leadership Training course, working with a Partnership developed between the Education Department and the Playford Council.
My interest in music comes from the skills I learned as a child but, because of family circumstances, was unable to go on and develop. In 1999, I began taking professional singing lessons and in 2000, I became the founding President of a group called Umbrella a Cappella. I also joined the Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus.
With Umbrella a Cappella, I became Assistant Music Director, taking rehearsals and conducting performances in the absence of the Music Director. I wrote arrangements for the choir and was instrumental in getting the choir ready for the 2004 Fringe performances. These concerts included two of my arrangements. In 2005, I started my own group, Free Spirit, with the group performing my arrangements and compositions. This group performed at a number of events including Folk Federation Festivals, a Marion Council Festival, World Vision and other charity concerts, and the 2006 Adelaide Fringe.
As a singer with the Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus (APC), I have performed in productions such as Sacred and Profane, presented in conjunction with the Australian Ballet and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO), in Verdi’s Requiem presented by the ASO with a visiting Italian Conductor, in Music on the Murray, and in a production with Keith Michell that played in Noarlunga, Port Pirie and Adelaide. In addition, the APC’s own productions have included works such as Handel’s Messiah, Handel’s Joshua, Honneggar’s King David, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, and work by Faure, Rutter, Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Britten, Karl Jenkins and many others.
My passion is to bring to our contemporary composers the idea that choral music has always been sung in the community and that it is appropriate for contemporary music to be written for community choirs. Coming together to sing has been a part of every culture. They have sung together about their spiritual beliefs, their work, their troubles, their joys. It’s a healing process. We need today’s musicians to start writing about contemporary issues in a way that groups can access and sing.
Janet Stephenson, Hon. Secretary,
I have been a chorister for all of my adult life, singing in various choirs and groups, and for the last 18 years, a member of the Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus.
During those 18 years, as well as being a singer, I served on the APC Committee as Hon. Secretary for some 6-plus years. At various other times I have held the positions of Soprano Voice representative, assistant to the Secretary, and Vice-President. During my term as Hon. Secretary/Public Officer, I was involved in all aspects of managing the Chorus business including serving as a member of the selection committee for the appointment of Music Directors. I instigated the introduction of, and collaborated in the preparation of, rental agreements with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and a contract with State Opera of South Australia for participation in the 2000 season of “Sacred and Profane” with SOSA and the Australian Ballet at the Adelaide Festival Theatre. In collaboration with the Music Director, I was responsible for contracts with the bi-annual event “Music on the Murray” (three seasons). I drew up ongoing employment contracts for the Music Director and Accompanist. I have had considerable administrative experience, including the preparation of grant applications, engaging and paying artists and overseeing concert preparations etc. plus the general day-to-day management of Chorus business.
In March 2007 I was co-opted on to the Committee once again as Hon. Secretary, serving for a further 3 months.
I was employed by the University of Adelaide for almost 20 years. I worked in a number of departments, as Secretary to the Dean of Science, and for the last 9 years of my employment with the University I was the Office Manager in the Student Health Service, a highly confidential and responsible job. I retired in 1996.
In 2006, I accepted the offer of Life Membership of the Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus.
Hilary Thompson, Hon Treasurer.
I bring a background in small business management to my role as Treasurer for Choralworks Inc.
For 20 years I held positions of practice manager and office manager for Veterinary and Dental practices. I have also had 4 years working as a Strata Manager. This role involved a wide range of organizational tasks as well as book keeping for the business accounts and responsibility for a trust account.
My interest in Choral singing began when at school and resumed again in 2000. I have sung with Briar Eyers Big Sing, Umbrella a Capella, and Free Spirit, a small a capella group. With Free Spirit I sang in Folk Federation festivals, a Marion Council festival, a world Vision Concert and other charity concerts and the 2006 Adelaide Fringe. I am currently a member of the Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus.
I was a committee member and Librarian for Umbrella a Cappella. During my time with Free Spirit I looked after their administration, which included ensuring all copyright issues were correctly covered for music arrangements and performances as well as undertaking the organizational and logistical aspects of being part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2006.
Kevin McKay,
Commencing his career in the Information Technology (IT) sector at the age of seventeen years, Kevin has continued to shine with a number of outstanding achievements. Kevin’s IT career began with a major retail chain where he was employed within the customer service division. During the initial stages of employment in this sector, Kevin realised he had found his niche.
It was during this new challenge that Kevin discovered the need for an affordable, onsite computer support service. It was following through and acting on this intuition that saw the birth of PC HAPPY.
With high demand for such a service, PC HAPPY grew rapidly. Kevin initially tried to sustain PC HAPPY whilst continuing with his full time employment, however it soon became evident that this new venture fulfilled a gap in the market and would continue to grow in its demand of his attention. It was with great regret that Kevin had to cease employment with the Organisation that had provided him with so much knowledge and experience.
During his time in retail, Kevin was nominated for the “Young Retailer of the Year (2001)” – progressing through to the final stages and competing as one of the “Top 12”. His motivation to excel in what he does forever pushing him to attain new heights.
And those new heights came. The following year (2002) Kevin was congratulated on Australia Day when he won the “City of Marion Young Citizen of the Year”. This achievement reflected his ongoing and tireless efforts in assisting and promoting local community organisations and business’.
Since this time Kevin has, and continues to, pursue new heights of excellence in the services that PC HAPPY offers – a Computer Sales and Service business for all to enjoy!
In 2007 Happy Hosting was born. It was initially established as a pilot project by PC HAPPY. The aim was to assist existing PC HAPPY clients in obtaining a name@yourdomain email address for their businesses. This type of email format can provide the feel of a larger organisation and allows businesses the freedom to move service providers as their needs change (without the costly corresponding hassle of having to update email addresses on business cards/ signage/ flyers etc).
Kevin met Val Kilgour MBA, President in early 2008 and was impressed with the Choralworks project. Kevin was co-opted onto the Committee in 2009 to provide expertise and advice in IT Development and Digital Marketing.
