Thank You for the Music 
Address from Judith Curphey OAM, Founder and Artistic Director

As we have celebrated the 25th anniversary throughout the year I've been asked many questions:

Why did you start the choir?
I was heading for retirement from teaching and couldn't imagine a life without music. 

Did you imagine it would be like this?
Not all of it.
 
Do you feel proud?
Yes, and a lot of other emotions. 

What has been the highlight?
There are too many to be able to name one.
There are better/fuller/longer answers of course... 

In 1984, there was a lack of opportunity for girls in the choral scene in Australia. I believed that my experience as musical director of amateur and semi-professional productions would enable me to create a choir with a difference. I envisaged a choir with a uniquely Australian sound, and an emphasis on theatrical presentation. 

The early years - a group of 8 and 9 year old girls in Melbourne and Adelaide wearing Laura Ashley print dresses and broderie Anglaise pinafores undertook their first performances. Who would have guessed that 25 years later four of these little girls would be our: 

• National Manager of Production and Administration - Libby Franke,
• National Manager of Music and Education - Kylie Lee-Archer,
• Music and Production Coordinator - Vicki King,
• South Australian State Music Coordinator - Katie Carey 

1989 - 85 girls selected from three states received a standing ovation in Canada. Who would have known that 25 years later we would have undertaken 12 national tours and 12 international tours to country towns and major cities throughout Australia, America, Asia and Europe' 

UNICEF performance - Audrey Hepburn led a standing ovation, came on stage and hugged me through tears saying, "They were beautiful". This was our first performance with a celebrity. Since then I have been overcome with pride as:

• Nelson Mandela shook every girl's hand at the end of their performance for him,
• His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI stood and applauded the girls for their performance on the steps of St Peters Basilica,
• Seated directly opposite Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a dinner in her honour, I watched her genuine applause and appreciation of the girls' performance.

As well as feeling proud I have also felt:

• Excitement when in 1998 a phone call began the extraordinary relationship with Qantas which has seen more than 1000 girls sing "I Still Call Australia Home" all around the world.
• The satisfaction of receiving return tour invitations from so many of our international host schools and choirs.
• Fulfilment as the choir was recognised for increasingly complex choreography which has given rise to the creation of its little sister Aus Girls Dance, in 2008.
• Rewarded to see the development of our new a3 - Australian Arts Alive schools program. The first performance involved 650 grade five and six children presenting a polished concert in the Bendigo Cathedral.
• The joy of knowing that one of our original choristers now has a daughter in the Australian Girls Choir and another in Aus Girls Dance.
• Overwhelmed as 35 ex-choristers surprised me at the Gala Spring Concert with a special song on my recent birthday.
•  Appreciative of Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce, the Governor-General of Australia's generosity in hosting an afternoon tea at Admiralty House in celebration of the 25th anniversary.
• Tearful at some of the comments made by choristers - I asked an 8 year old walking off stage at the end of a performance, "What's the matter, why are you crying'". She replied, "This is the happiest day of my life." On a recent tour an 18 year old expressed her thanks to me for starting the choir and added, "I have been a chorister since the age of 5, and in 13 years, the choir has been the only stable thing in my life".
• Thrilled to know that in 2010, the ABC will record a CD of the Australian Girls Choir singing our favourite songs.

This year many people have thanked me which I appreciate greatly. I genuinely feel, however, that I am the one who should be giving thanks to all those whose association with the choir have enabled me to have such a fortunate and fulfilling retirement':

• To the thousands of girls and their parents, without whom there would not be a choir.
• To past and current music tutors, choreographers, venue managers and administrators who have shared my passion and philosophy and whose loyalty and professionalism I greatly admire.
• To the ex-choristers whose allegiance continues to contribute to the success of the choir, AGD and a3, be that within the organisation or in their diverse range of professions and lifestyles,
• To our Company Director, Jane Curphey, whose exceptional strength, determination and creative business strategies, have for 20 years enabled us to walk the fine line between artistic credibility and financial viability ensuring the choir's solid financial basis and success.
• To our Managing Director, Nicole Muir, whose inspirational leadership, outstanding entrepreneurial skills and personal charisma have over the last 15 years been largely responsible for raising the choir's public profile to new heights.
• To the members of our Advisory Board who over the past year have given unstintingly of their time and expertise.
• To family and friends whose love and encouragement through all the ups and downs has always been there. 

So, as the girls will sing in the concert finale, I say:
"Thank you for the Music, for giving it to me"

Judith Curphey OAM
Founder and Artistic Director