The Birds' Noel

For Christmas 2024, Wayfarers Australia is presenting a program of varied short sacred pieces from 15th - 17th centuries, as well as recently written Christmas carols. The major work in the program is Judith Clingan’s Christmas Cantata The Birds’ Noel, commissioned in 1990 by the Canberra School of Music Community Choir. Soloists Maartje Sevenster and Alasdair Stretch will join the choir and instrumental ensemble (wind, brass, organ and handbells) in presenting 20 short movements in which a variety of Australian birds tell the Christmas story, from an avian point of view! Canberra Wayfarers and friends will be augmented by interstate singers and instrumentalists, as well as the Canberra Children’s Choir, trained by Tobias Cole. Wayfarers gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Music for Canberra and the Orana Steiner School.