Young Voices of Melbourne exists to create choral music of a high standard and to foster excellence in music education
Our Story
About YVM
Young Voices of Melbourne is a child-focussed choir. Our first priority is to provide experiences for our members that are enjoyable, stimulating and educational in the broadest sense. Founder and Director Mark O'Leary is recognised Australia-wide as an authority on children's choirs and Kodaly music education.
Young Voices of Melbourne is a small, friendly organisation. Each week we work with around 200 singers but group sizes are small and and each member receives the individual attention he or she needs to fulfil his or her potential. Strong bonds are formed between choir members as their share new experiences and strive together for excellence.
Young Voices of Melbourne is a small, friendly organisation. Each week we work with around 200 singers but group sizes are small and and each member receives the individual attention he or she needs to fulfil his or her potential. Strong bonds are formed between choir members as their share new experiences and strive together for excellence.
work it works
Our operations
Young Voices of Melbourne runs six rehearsal groups: Beginning Training Choir, Junior Training Choir, Senior Training Choir, Main Choir, YVMen and Exaudi. Following their audition with the Artistic Director, singers are allocated to the appropriate group for their age and ability. New members are only asked to make a commitment to the choir once they have attended enough rehearsals for them to be sure that they are happy to continue.
Entry to all groups is by audition, and promotion from one group to another is entirely at the discretion of the Artistic Director, and depends on age, maturity, progress in acquiring musical skills (through the Training Program), the availability of a place and general readiness. All groups rehearse in Toorak, except Exaudi which rehearses in Armadale.
Entry to all groups is by audition, and promotion from one group to another is entirely at the discretion of the Artistic Director, and depends on age, maturity, progress in acquiring musical skills (through the Training Program), the availability of a place and general readiness. All groups rehearse in Toorak, except Exaudi which rehearses in Armadale.
An educated approach
Our Expertise
Zoltan Kodály (1882 - 1967) was a prominent Hungarian composer and teacher who revolutionised music education in Hungary, and whose ideas are now used in many countries world-wide. All our staff are trained and experienced Kodaly practitioners. Mark O'Leary has been actively involved in the Australian Kodály movement for many years, having served on the National Council of Kodály Australia, and being a long term member of the Victorian Branch committee, of which he was President for fifteen years from 2005 - 2020. Mark has organised the Kodály Choral Festival and Kodály Junior Festival for more than 25 years, and is convenor of many events for the organisation. Our Junior Training Choir teacher Marion Stafford and our accompanist Julia Piggin are both lecturers in Kodály Teaching Methodology, and are recognised as experts in this area. Elizabeth O'Leary is an aural musicianship lecturer for Kodály Australia, Marion, Mark and Julia are all honorary life members of the Kodály Australia.
Our Education
Want to join?
Expressions of Interest
How to join
Entry into our children's choirs is by audition.
Entry into Exaudi is by application.
Very Young Voices is open to any child aged 0-5.
Get in touch now!
Entry into Exaudi is by application.
Very Young Voices is open to any child aged 0-5.
Get in touch now!