Serendipity: the choir welcomes you to its web presence. We are a sub-committee of the Bundanoon Community Association. (http://www.bundanoon.nsw.au/) We hope you enjoy exploring the website and learning more about Serendipity .....

It is an exciting time for the choir. Since the formation of Serendipity, the choir has been involved in a number or performances apart from its two main performances every year. Serendipity's reputation as a dynamic ensemble is spreading throughout the Highlands.

Several members of the choir have offered their skills and expertise to the general organisation of Serendipity and we have benefited from this in areas as diverse as programme notes, our website, graphics & design, costume creation and publicity. The idea of a contact system - the Serenes - by which interested supporters could be advised of forthcoming events and choir developments was another initiative of an individual choir member.

~ Meet the Choir ~

Music Director: Kerith Fowles

Founder and Music Director of Serendipity: the choir, Kerith had a distinguished career as a Music educator in NSW. As a member of the Music Curriculum Committee and the HSC Music Examination Committee for the Board of Studies she was instrumental in pursuing significant changes to the structure and content of all the Music syllabi, and the format and overall approach to examining the courses presented for the HSC in Music.

As a teacher Kerith had the opportunity to teach at all levels, from Kindergarten to tertiary, and in State and Independent schools and colleges. She was (and is) a presenter of workshops for various educational groups including the Orff Association, Kodaly Education programme, the NSW and Victorian recorder associations, and community choirs in Canberra and Sydney.

Her musical experience is wide-ranging - she has played in chamber music, orchestras (violin, French horn and percussion), recorder ensembles of all sizes and configurations; has sung with most of Sydney's leading choirs, and continues to be an ‘occasional' member of Australia's only professional choir, 'Cantillation'; has conducted school, community and church choirs; and appears in a range of recordings with 'Cantillation' and on various film soundtracks.

Since the formation of Serendipity: the choir Kerith has reduced her musical involvement in the Southern Highlands - time just doesn't permit. However she is still a member of 'Concertante', an instrumental trio in which she plays recorders with Catherine Weaver (recorders and viol da gamba) and Ann Clipsham (spinet, piano, piano accordion). Kerith also tutors for the Southern Highlands U3A Association, leading an instrumental group, 'The Highland Buskers', which now has some 23 members, and shares its love of music with residents of local nursing homes and retirement villages.

Spare time? Arranging music, recording music, printing music, listening to music! And time with much-loved furry members of the household, gardening, reading, embroidery and walking (Kerith and Ann have journeyed on many pilgrim walks throughout the world including a southern section of the Way of St James).

For Kerith, Serendipity offers a wonderful opportunity to use her many years of teaching, performance and conducting to create choral music of high quality with members of the local community, all of whom have become friends and allies in the pursuit of musical excellence.

Accompanist: Ann Clipsham

Inspired by a musical environment as a child, Ann Clipsham trained as a classroom music-teacher and worked in both primary and secondary schools for most of her career. She has taught in both country and Sydney schools finishing at International Grammar School as a teacher of piano, keyboard and musicianship. Ann has always loved playing the piano, particularly as an accompanist, and has maintained a professional interest as a teacher and performer. She received Licentiate diplomas in both teaching and performance practice from The Australian Music Examinations Board and from Trinity College, London. Ann works as a church organist, playing for services, weddings and funerals, and even dabbles in piano accordion; but her great joy is in making music with others as equal partners.

Ann is a professional accompanist and teacher of piano. She also performs regularly on spinet and piano with 'Concertante', an instrumental trio specialising in Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, and plays horn and trombone in the Highlands Sinfonia, the Proms Orchestra, the Highland Theatre Company orchestra and, this year, in the inaugural Highlands Tattoo. Ann was rehearsal pianist and repetiteur for the HTG's production of 'Guys and Dolls' and is currently filling the same role for 'The Baker's Wife'.

The Choristers

Move the mouse over each chorister's picture to find out a little more about each member of the choir.