The Gisborne Singers and the Ballarat Choral Society combine to make an 80 plus person choir, supported by full orchestra with Helen Duggan as soprano soloist.  Choir and orchestra are conducted by Stephen Brockman. 

These two choirs were last together for Mendelssohn’s Elijah and the power and resonance of the two choirs together is quite wonderful, as was indicated in a major combined rehearsal recently in Ballan. 

The Armed man was commissioned by the Royal Armouries in Britain in 2000 to mark the transition from one millennium to another. It reflects the passing of the most war-torn century in human history. 

This is a stunning work by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins who charts the growing menace of a descent into war with a hope for peace. It is an exciting work both to sing and hear in concert with soaring melodies that are quite breath-taking. The work is presented in recognition of the Gallipoli landings in 1915. All of the innocent victims of war are commemorated in its text, regardless of race or creed. 

Performances will be at St Patrick’s College Chapel, Sturt St, Ballarat –3pm on Sunday 15th November. Bookings: Her Majesty’s Theatre box office 5333 5888 or www.hermaj.com 

Also in Woodend at St Ambrose Parish Hall, Cnr Anslow and Templeton Sts, Woodend 
at 3pm on Sunday 22nd November. Bookings: trybooking.com or Christine 
on 0413 003 254. 

Tickets----$35, $30 concession, $20 Students. Under 12  free

The Gisborne Singers are collaborating with the Ballarat Choral Society for their next production- 

‘The Armed Man—A Mass for Peace’ to form an 80 person choir, accompanied by 20 professional musicians. This is to be performed at Ballarat on Sunday November 15 and at Woodend on Sunday November 22 (St Ambrose Church Hall ). Both performances commence at 3 p.m. 

This is a stunning work by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. He charts the growing menace of a descent into war and ends with a hope for peace. 

All the innocent victims of war are commemorated in its text regardless of race or creed. It is an exciting work both to sing and hear in concert. The work is presented in recognition of the Gallipoli landings in 1915. 

The Armed Man was commissioned by the Royal Armouries in Great Britain to mark the transition from one millennium to another. It reflects the passing of”The most war-torn and destructive century in human history” and looks forward in hope to a more peaceful future. It was first performed in the year 2000. 

It is essentially an anti-war composition based on the Catholic Mass combined with other texts including the fifteenth century French folk song ‘L’Homme arme’, the Islamic Call to Prayers (Adhaan), excerpts from the Mahabharata, as well as from the writings of Rudyard Kipling, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Sankichi Toge. 

During the singing, we are considering projecting images of war photographs onto a screen behind the choir. We are also considering reading messages from soldiers in the various war zones to their families at home in Australia. We hope to use local material for both ideas. 

Stephen Brockman (Musical Director of the Gisborne Singers) has said he would be very grateful if your readers could help us to assemble photos, letters and memorabilia for this presentation. Contact can be made directly with Stephen Brockman on smbrockman444@bigpond.com or per 

telephone on 03 5428 9444 or mobile 0414 289 444. Bookings will be open from October—just go to www.gisbornesingers.org.au or telephone Christine on 0413 003254.