Musical Director Brett Weymark

Few places can match the splendour of Sydney’s beaches at sunrise. The stillness of the air, the cool sand beneath your feet and the water gently lapping the shore make for one of the most beautiful environments in the world. Add to this the angelic voices of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and you have a very special Festival event.

Dawn Chorus is a program of concerts that will take place at sunrise on some of Sydney’s best loved beaches. The audience is invited to sit on the sand and experience the majestic simplicity of over 100 voices heralding the arrival of another summer’s day.

As the sun rises on the horizon, the air will be filled with inspirational and uplifting choral music, including four new works especially commissioned for the event by Raffaele Marcellino, Dan Walker, John Peterson and Iain Grandage.

Each concert will last 45 minutes, beginning at first light and ending as the sun begins to climb into the sky. A beautiful and inspiring way to begin an early day or end a late night, Dawn Chorus is not to be missed.

DAWN CHORUS DATES

JANUARY 10, 5.30AM - BALMORAL BEACH|
For information and a map, click here.
The Pavilion Kiosk will be opening at 6.15am on Saturday 10th January and then the Café will be opening from 6.30am.

JANUARY 17, 5.30AM - NIELSEN PARK
For more info, click here. For a map, click here.

JANUARY 24, 5.30AM - CLIFTON GARDENS
For more info, click here. For a map, click here.

JANUARY 31, 5.30AM - BONDI BEACH
Meet at the front of the Bondi Pavilion on the beach. Sydney Festival staff will be on site to direct you to the exact performance area.

DAWN CHORUS PROGRAM (same program at each beach)

O Virtus Sapientiae - Hildegard von Bingen
Dawn Desiderata - Raffaele Marcellino (New Work especially commissioned for Dawn Chorus)
Shore - Iain Grandage (New Work especially commissioned for Dawn Chorus)
Totus Tuus - Henryk Gorecki
The Pool - Dan Walker (New Work especially commissioned for Dawn Chorus)
O Magnum Mysterium - Morten Lauridsen
Sailing for the Sun - John Peterson (New Work especially commissioned for Dawn Chorus)
Song for Athene - John Tavener
O-re-mi - Nigerian song

Note re access: People with access requirements are suggested to attend Balmoral, Clifton Gardens or Nielsen Park perormances as there is a raised footpath from the which they will be able to view the performance. The event takes place on the sand at all beaches.

Company/production special thanks and acknowledgements.

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WHAT THE PRESS SAID

“Spectacular.” The Sun Herald – 11 January

“…all attention was focused on the conductor, Brett Weymark, who led them through the work with rock-like reliability and discreet flashes of brilliance... more” - The Sydney Morning Herald

 

“A grand total of 120 members of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will perform what their conductor Brett Weymark calls yoga for the soul as the sun rises.” – Mosman Daily

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COMMENTS

Kathy Uroda 09/12/08

Fastastic idea... what time does the performance begin?

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Sydney Festival 10/12/08

Hi Kathy, the performances start at 5.30am and last for approximately 45mins.

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Jeff 10/12/08

What a way to wake up in the morning!

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Kim 14/12/08

Apart from Bondi Beach how would you get to the other venues, re parking? Love the idea.

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Ashley 18/12/08

What a great idea. Perhaps next year you may even move a little further North or South?.

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marco 25/12/08

lovely project :) there is a similar event in the alps in italy, called I Suoni delle Dolomiti, where musicians play at sunrise, after having climbed on top of the Dolomiti mountains together with the audience! btw where's arvo part music in the program?

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Sarah 26/12/08

So is the program the same for each location?

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Sarah 26/12/08

So is the program the same for each location?

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Jenni 28/12/08

Where is Balmoral beach? We're from the US and we'll be visiting, and that date is during our visit!

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chevy 29/12/08

I can't wait to experience this event! I don't think there's a better combination than the beach, sunrise and music. Excellent idea!

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Catherine 29/12/08

Balmoral Beach is at the bottom of Awaba Street in Mosman on the lower North shore. It is a steep 420 metre street so a tough walk up after the concert. Worth it though

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Kali 29/12/08

Jenni, Balmoral Beach is in Mosman, on the north shore of Sydney Harbour (near Taronga Zoo). There is usually a bus you can get from South Mosman ferry wharf to Balmoral Beach but I'm afraid this is a little to early for that. If you have access to a car (or a taxi) you should have no problems getting there, it should only be a 10-15 min maximum drive from the city at that time of the morning.

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Oliver 29/12/08

Balmoral beach is near mosman. http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=-33.826772,151.251483&spn=0.009786,0.019355&z=16&msid=104201855469130143131.00045f2fc320f93520953 should help

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Kristina 31/12/08

I live 3 min from Bondi and will be there - sounds such a lovely idea. No rain please!

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Ana 01/01/09

Where is Clifton Gardens?

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Michele Naughton 02/01/09

Want somewhere to stay and walk to Balmoral for the event on 10 January? Get a group together and contact me on 0403172337. Have a look at the website for accommodation details www.landsedge.com.au

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MIke 02/01/09

What part of Balmoral beach is it taking place?

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Lee 03/01/09

Pls consider Cronulla or Brighton-le-Sands next time.

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anne 03/01/09

I'm sure there's a beach on the Parramatta River. Not just north and south. How about west.

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James 03/01/09

What part of Clifton Gardens is the event taking place?

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Carlotta 04/01/09

Si. Per favore. Che bella idea. Stupenda!

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Little Chorister 04/01/09

- Yes, we're doing the same program at each venue. - At Balmoral, I think we're supposed to be standing underneath a rock outcrop, which is at the Bather's Pavilion end of the beach. - Clifton Gardens, is actually not that far from Balmoral and is also every pretty. I used to go there as a child for family picnics. Google Maps will show you where it is. - Public Transport will be a challenge, but for Balmoral: i)Take the 188 bus (Sydney Buses) ii)Dep: 4:41am Wynyard, Carrington St Stand D iii)Arr: 4:59am Mosman, Spit Rd Nr Awaba St iv)Walk downhill along Awaba St and you will be on the Beach. Look to your right for the rock outcrop. - We're all hoping for no rain too! Singing that early in the morning in the rain will be no fun... Do come along! It'd be sad singing to an empty beach :P We're trying to arrange a coffee van to come along if that's any additional incentive LOL

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Marina Etherington 04/01/09

Hi A great idea. I am assuming that public transport will be available for these extra early extraordinary events for these occasions?

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Aileen Reardon 05/01/09

Wowoweeee!!! too early to get up on a saturday. but i don't want to miss the dawn chorus. this is my first time to celebrate and see sydney festival so this is much awaited for me.

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Sally 05/01/09

Where abouts in Clifton Gardens will they be singing? I don't know the area at all! I 'Google-mapped' it, but came away not much the wiser!!

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Bronwyn 05/01/09

Where on Bondi Beach will it be? At the Pavilion or elsewhere?

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Mandi 05/01/09

Stupid question- this is free right?

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Mandi 05/01/09

Just saw the "free" sign. Never mind :)

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Woman 05/01/09

It'd be really cool if there was a coach/bus that could commute people from say Central station to each of these locations. Just a suggestion.

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Stef 06/01/09

is it possible to camp nearby for the Balmoral performance?

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lei xu 06/01/09

that will be awesome !! can not miss it!

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Ray 07/01/09

Be there weather permitting. omg will have to leave Gosford by 4am. Great way to see the sunrise. Swim afterwards ;) coffee shop and newspaper. How good can it get!!

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Amelia 08/01/09

A great idea. Perhaps next year it could be held at Manly as public transport via the ferry would be perfect in the morning.

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kathryn 09/01/09

The summary on the event says it's free and starts at 5.30am at Balmoral. Balmoral is on the north side of the harbour (Bondi is on the south side).

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Richard 09/01/09

Sally, Clifton Gardens is a very compact bay/beach so if you can get there, you can't fail to see something like this happening. For those of you who don't know this area of Sydney, there is a sensational walk from Balmoral to Clifton Gardens (probably no longer than an hour) which would be nice early in the morning.

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BC 09/01/09

I thought I read in an earlier program that there was to be some Arvo Part on the menu for these concerts. What happened there? The rest of the program looks great but I was looking forward to hearing some of the old Arvo down there by the sea...

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Gillian H Downie 09/01/09

We are organising all friends to go to this. what a GREAT IDEA!!! up with the larks indeed gg

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Sandy 09/01/09

Couldn't agree more to have the event in the south as well. Cronulla or even a Wollongong beach would have been awesome.

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Maria 09/01/09

what happens if it rains

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Miazzo 09/01/09

I am from Brazil and this will be my last weekend in sydney ! Couldn't be better, i'm gonna pay for a tax take me there because i would never miss this such great idea !

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Trish 10/01/09

Fantastic idea - Balmoral was crowded and what a beautiful morning to start things rolling. Unfortunately there was no amplification and, unless you were a few rows from the choir, most of the performance couldn't be heard by such a large audience. For that reason it was disappointing and hope this can be rectified for the other venues.

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Minerva 10/01/09

Some advice to those going for the next three weeks. It was brilliant this morning, a startling combination of eerie singing, sounds of waves and birds wheeling across the clouds and calling out. Some things to think about: would recommend to all that you get there well before 5am. I would estimate a couple of thousand people came to Balmoral. Get as close to the front as you can because some unusual people bring chairs, blankets and cushions are comfortable and more considerate. The choir also needs to reposition themselves halfway through the performance so everyone gets to see them - or else the choirmaster needs to pick a spot where there is a natural backdrop. Thank you, Dawners, it was worth getting up at 3.55am to hear and see you.

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Luminous Chorister 10/01/09

You had to be there...! along with the other 4000 people! obviously the directions posted by Little Chorister, were accurate. So many people awake and happy at 5am this morning...and while we sang, the chorus of magpies and currawongs joined in! Wonderful!!

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Jennifer 11/01/09

I was at yesterday morning's performance at Balmoral. The choir was absolutely stunning. It was a great experience.

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Ray Hayward 12/01/09

Went to the Balmoral chorus. Got there early and found a spot on the sand pre dawn and watched the sunrise to the sound of wonderful voices and the water lapping on the beach. Great way to see an early Sydney at peace. Might back up and do 1 or 3 more ;) Ray

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Ali 12/01/09

I heard that the sound at Balmoral was really poor given the big crowd and the people at the back/either side couldn't hear. Are you going to use at least some small speakers at the other venues? Shame to get up so early for something potentially so amazing, and not hear anything.

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Plonk 12/01/09

Sounds awesome! Early but im sure it will be worth it.

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Ashley 12/01/09

Thank you for bringing this wonderful event to the lovely North Shore. A beautiful picturesque place to have it. Clifton Gardens is very near Taronga Zoo.

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andrea 12/01/09

Oh how heavenly, see you there

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Doug 12/01/09

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! http://www.newfreemedia.com

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Little Chorister 13/01/09

Thanks to everyone who came, glad to hear that you enjoyed it. The beach certainly wasn't empty! In fact we were surprised at how many of you there were. Sorry that some of you at the back couldn't hear us so well; the organisers weren't expecting the audience to stretch that far down the beach. The concert is specifically advertised as unamplified, so I'm not sure whether it will be amplified for the next three concerts or not... You might have to get there early and sit near the front ;D As for Arvo Pärt, I was looking forward to performing something by him too when I signed on for these concerts! However, it's been explained to me that we didn't have the commissioned pieces at the time of initial programming and when the pieces came in the program needed to change so that it all fit together nicely. So Pärt and Whitacre didn't make it, but we have Górecki and Lauridsen instead, as well as the fantastic new pieces. Finally, yes it is still happening if it rains. We've been told that the show must go on and the weather would have to be positively cyclonic before it gets cancelled. Hope to see many more of you there over the next three Saturdays :)

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Not-so-little Chorister 15/01/09

I believe that the Festival team is working through some options to ensure that everyone gets a chance to hear us at the next three concerts. May not be amplification though .. see you on Saturday!

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JD 15/01/09

just trying to work out whether it will be better as the beginning to a day or the end of a night..

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Cath 15/01/09

Fantastic idea. Hopefully next year it can be spread a bit more around Sydney. There is another side to Sydney. Thinking of Cronulla share the music around.

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Piers 16/01/09

It all sounds wonderful, with the unique dawn colours on the water as a backdrop to the fine music, I can't wait to experience it all. For those asking the choir to travel to Cronulla or Wollongong, let's bear in mind a thought for the performers. They have to get up with the birds, before us, transport themselves and their bulky instruments and set up, before we even arrive! All that and it's free!!

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Martin 17/01/09

Just back from Nielsen Park. A magic experience, thank you to everyone involved. Sadly the performance was partly spoilt by the photographer who shot continuously through every number, with flash for the first half of the show. One lady near us was so frustrated by him that she left. My wife spoke to him afterwards. Apparently he's covering the event for the choir. A professional photographer would have had a blimp to silence the camera, would have shot in available light, would have worn dark clothing and would have tried to cover the event in 100 discreet frames instead of 10,000 intrusive ones. It was a pity that the only thing everyone around us was talking about after the exquisite performance was the way this cameraman had spoilt the atmosphere.

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Arthur 17/01/09

A lovely performance this morning at Nielsen Park. Well done to the choir!

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Andrew 17/01/09

This morning's performance at Nielsen Park was fantastic! Loved it. Just a suggestion: Instead of amplifying the choir(which would obviously detract from the aim of the event), could a sound system be possibly used to bring the sound to the further parts of the audience by having the speakers far away from the choir? The volume would still be kept low. In this way the further members of the audience will be able to hear the choir just as if they were behind the conductor. And this would definitely blend in with the ambient sounds, which are already loud enough to be heard anywhere:) Great job to the choir! And marshals too!:P

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Arthur 18/01/09

I agree with Martin's comments about the distracting behaviour of the photographer. At one point he was taking shots of the choristers' feet. Very useful, I'm sure. The audience found it annoying and it must have driven the choristers almost bonkers!

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Boot Camper 19/01/09

What a lovely way to start the morning - swimming/paddling to the sounds of the choir. Thank you to all involved.

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Sydney Festival 19/01/09

Bronwyn - Please meet at the pavilion. Sydney Festival staff will be onsite to direct you to the exact location of the performance on the beach. Maria - Dawn Chorus will still take place if it rains. It will only be cancelled should lighting threaten the safety of the audience or choristers or if thunder drowns out the sound of the choristers. Ali - Dawn Chorus is not an amplified performance. The choir of 100 strong voices will perform the whole program on a predetermined area on the beach. The choir will then move to perform segments of the program at two alternate areas of the beach for audience members who were not able to hear the whole performance. We recommend you come early to secure front row seats.

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not a morning person 20/01/09

Hope to see some of you at the Bondi one - there's a Bondi Chorus joining the main choir (another 200 or so of us singing) at the final performance. Though how I am going to get up and be able to sing soprano at 5:30am remains to be seen....stay up from the night before perhaps? Looking forward to it!

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Lesley 26/01/09

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou, the Clifton Gardens Dawn Chorus was wonderful. The support network helping people park and get to the beach, the open Bacino's for a early coffee, the bay, boats and swimmers, the perfect sunrise and the beauty of the song. What a treat? I felt so privileged. Thankyou

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Miriam 27/01/09

A lovely performance at Clifton Gardens last Saturday. And thank you to all of the marshalls for a job well done.

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Sunlover 29/01/09

My wife and I just found out about this today. I wish we knew about it weeks ago! We'll never miss such a wonderful event so we'll see you guys at Bondi Beach... this is just one of the MANY things we love about living in Sydney, Australia. Keep 'em coming please!! Thank you!!

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Dominic 30/01/09

Manly Beach would be a great addition to this event next year to allow the large population of the Northern Peninsula to enjoy the performance.

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Sarah 30/01/09

We're heading to bondi beach tomorrow morning on our bikes - does anyone know if there will be designated bike parking?

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Rancy 30/01/09

yes, I'm going bondai beach too. But if i get the bondai beach by the bus 382 can I reach the place for the show?

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Pia 30/01/09

I'm getting goosebumps just reading all your posts... can't wait to see the sunrise tomorrow morning! Then coffee, walk the dog, and a morning swim!

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Peter 30/01/09

C'mon Sarah, get real! Bondi is Brazillian for rebellious. If you can't find somewhere conveniently illegal to park a pushbike at 5 in the morning, you're missing the point. (However I do suggest you lock it up)

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Sonja 31/01/09

3:20am. I've been out all night. Have come home to pack my camera and beach towel, can't wait. Hoping to have a heavenly experience!

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Melanie 31/01/09

I just got home from Dawn Chorus on Bondi Beach. What a choir. What a sunrise. THANKYOU Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Brett Weymark and Sydney festival for such a truly special experience. This morning was one of the highlights of my summer and something I will never forget.

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Karl 31/01/09

Amazing. Truly amazing. I was blown away by the choir's performance this morning at Bondi! Dawn Chorus was absolutely the best gig at this year's Festival.

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Alexandra 31/01/09

We headed down to Bondi Beach this morning for the Dawn Chorus-generally NOTHING would get me out of bed at 3:45am but WOW it was certainly worth it! Beautiful choir, fantastic atmosphere and amazing views. We feel very lucky to have been able to see it!

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Andrew 31/01/09

Been to all but the first Dawn Chorus. This time, the Bondi one was simply amazing. Just wish this would go on, and not stop here:)

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Lani 31/01/09

We would have loved it at Cronulla beach - see header picture on www.true2you.wordpress.com for how beautiful it looks at sunrise. Coupled with the choir would be sublime.

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Frances 31/01/09

Fantastic, fantastic, FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for the amazing morning I've experienced today.

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Ella 01/02/09

The event at Bondi was remarkable, wonderful, beautiful. Thank you. Is there any plan for a recording of that beautiful music?

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Eeva 01/02/09

Stunning start for the new day. Tuned into something awesome and yet promising...In the midst of these recession news, it felt like a new hope landed to Australia, straight from the waves. Finished the SuperDay in Domain, with the laugh of Pajazzo in the head. Thank you Sydney. I just love this country!

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leslie storozuk 02/02/09

i love australia. it's a country that is still young enough to enjoy a good laugh. have visited once already and am planning to visit again, probably next year. i love the idea of a city tuned acutely to the arts. adore the idea of a choir singing at sunrise. so i am using these comments as inspiration and detail planning. thanks for being so australian. cheers from a cold land leslie

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Imogen 02/02/09

Please, please, please make Dawn Chorus an annual event within the Sydney Festival.

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Little Chorister 04/02/09

A big thank you to everyone for waking up so early and making the trek to listen to us. We're all looking forward to being able to sleep in this Saturday, but we're also going to miss the whole early morning music experience. No plans to record that I know of, but we've heard that the Clifton Gardens concert will be shown on the ABC Sunday Arts Prgoramme on 22 Feb. Not sure what will happen for next year's Sydney Festival, but if you'd like to listen to us some more, feel free to come along to our other concerts this year :)

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Medium sized chorister 11/02/09

For those who missed out on the beaches (or if you want to hear us again), Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will perform a repeat and final performance of Dawn Chorus on Sunday 15 Feb at 6am on the steps of the Sydney Opera House at a special fundraising event in aid of the Victorian bushfire appeal. Proceeds will go directly to the Victorian bushfire relief fund. Get there early!

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