AusArt Day 26 - Canberra Choral Society

On 22 October 2026, join us for AusArt Day — a national day of giving to the arts.

Help Canberra Choral Society to commission a major new work by acclaimed Australian composer Sally Whitwell, celebrating 75 years of Canberra Choral Society (CCS) and 100 years since the opening of Old Parliament House.

To commemorate these two significant Canberra anniversaries, CCS is commissioning a new choral work from award-winning Australian composer Sally Whitwell, for a proposed premiere in King’s Hall at the Museum of Australian Democracy in September 2027.

The project also gives CCS an opportunity to champion the work of a leading contemporary Australian woman composer. Historically, concert repertoire has overwhelmingly represented the work of male composers. This commission will help create something new: an Australian choral work grounded in Canberra, written for today’s audiences and designed to live beyond its premiere.

For more than 70 years, Canberra Choral Society has inspired audiences and nurtured singers through high-quality choral performance, education, and collaboration.

Your gift today helps create lasting Australian music that celebrates our city’s voice and connects community through song. Our goal: $12,000 — will contribute towards the composer’s fee to commission Sally Whitwell.

• Why now: With your help, the work will be premiered in 2027 and added to the national choral repertoire.

• Your impact: Every gift, large or small, directly contributes to new Australian music. Every donor will be acknowledged in a concert program.

Suggested donation levels:

• $50 = provides score copies for the choir

• $100 = supports rehearsal workshops with the composer

• $250 = invests in creating a lasting Australian composition

• $500 = funds the commission directly

• $1,000 = major donor recognition in the score and concert program

Together, we can make this new music possible.

MAKE A DONATION

1. Click on 'Help us Raise $12,000' button

2. Click on the DONATIONS box and enter your donation amount.

3. Continue to the Checkout and complete the buyer information.

4. Click Continue to Payment and select one of these payment methods:

   1. Pay Another Way, includes Credit Card, Google Pay or PayPal

   2. G Pay

5. Complete your payment details.

6. A Tax deductible donation receipt will be emailed to you.

7. Please note the descriptor which will appear on your card statement: Tickets*AusArt Day

Canberra Choral Society is registered as a Charity for the Advancement of Culture with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).