Handel’s Messiah – December 2025

Eligibility

There is a limit to the number of people able to be comfortably and safely placed on stage at the City Hall, therefore choir numbers are limited to 100 singers.

Enrolment for 3rd term will close on 6 November 2025. Don’t forget to register here if you have not already done so. If you have enrolled and paid fees for the full year you do not have to register again.

Enrolment of new choristers for Messiah will be limited to those who know the music and have performed it before. We regret that any new members are not guaranteed a place to sing in the Messiah concert.

We have a short run-up to Messiah, so all choristers will be expected to attend all rehearsals from 3rd November to the concert on 14th December.

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If you wish to join the choir or renew your membership please complete the following three steps.

1) Please read our enrolment information which can be found here.
**Choristers must attend 75% of all rehearsals for each concert to be eligible to sing in that concert, including the last 3 Monday rehearsals and the Saturday prior to the concert. If you do not meet this requirement you may not be able to sing in that concert.
New enrolments will not be accepted after week 5 of a rehearsal period, being deferred until the next rehearsal period commences. Please ensure that your name is on the attendance roll and sign this each week you attend. The roll is used to confirm performance eligibility and insurance cover for choristers.**
2) Complete our Registration Form (please complete even if you are a returning member)
3) Pay your fees as below:

– Fees are $65 per term or $35 for full-time students. There are 3 terms per year.
– If you pay your fees for the whole year (before 15/03/2025) it will only cost $130 (or $65 for students).

To complete your registration, please pay fees by direct deposit to:

   Newcastle University Choir
   WESTPAC BSB: 032507
   Account No. 104622

Please complete the bank reference field in the format “SMITH.J-fees”

Please note, that membership payments will not be taken at rehearsals.

If you need further information, please contact our Treasurer, Sandra, via christie.sandra@gmail.com

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 7-9:30 pm. We generally meet in the Great Hall or in the Science Theatre at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus (See Map here). Any changes due to venue unavailability will be notified in advance via email.

Potential members are welcome to contact us to arrange to attend and listen. If you wish you can just drop in at 7:00pm and listen to us quietly or join in.

Messiah Rehearsals

Rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah start from 3rd November 2025 to the end of the year, and will be held in the University’s Life Sciences Theatre (LSTH) – see map for details.

Music

Music will generally be provided on a loan basis at the beginning of the concert cycle at no extra cost.

After the concert we kindly request return of the music, cleaned of all pencil markings, within 2 weeks of the concert, either at the following rehearsal, or by separate arrangement with our librarian, Elizabeth.

Non-returns or late returns will be charged to recover printing costs and fees from third parties incurred by the choir.