In June 2024 the 'ChorusOz' of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs gathering almost 1000 passionate skilled volunteer singers from around Australia (and the world) to sing Karl Jenkins 'The Armed Man' at the Sydney Opera House.

Katie Noonan and myself were commissioned (a first for ChorusOz) to create a standalone companion work for the Australian Vocal Ensemble (AVÉ) to sing alongside and with the massed singers, and by various engines of fate were drawn to the St Francis of Assisi text, "make me an instrument of your peace" and thus 'An Instrument of Peace' (singers, musicians, artists, and audience all gathered together) was born. In this short excerpt the four soloists of AVÉ weave their lines through the clustered chorus, with a 60-piece band (orchestrated by Steve Newcomb) being a bedrock of orchestral sound.

I am profoundly grateful to Katie for sharing this commission with me, to Brett Weymark OAM and then Sydney Philharmonia Choirs team for offering this commission, and to Brett's extraordinary and passionate work to bring 1000 musicians together in just one weekend to sing this new Australian work alongside Karl Jenkins' well-loved favourite. It was broadcast live from the Sydney Opera House on ABC Classic FM where this excerpt is taken.

Katie Noonan, Soprano
Fiona Campbell OAM, Mezzo Soprano
Louis Hurley, Tenor
Andrew O'Connor, Bass-Baritone
Brett Weymark OAM, Conductor
& Artistic Director Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra
ChorusOz 2024

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