History
Lea Baker, Master Director, founded the Endeavour Harmony Chorus in August 1996 with 25 singers.
Since then, we have refined the art form of 4 part a cappella (unaccompanied) harmony in the modern barbershop style. We are constantly learning and extending our skills through an ongoing education process.
Our chorus, now in its 13th year and with more than 75 members, performs a variety of musical styles. Our repertoire includes modern ballads, old jazz standards, musical hits, 60’s favourites, gospel, traditional, swing, blues and comedy.
Barbershop had its humble beginnings in the deep south of America, but has been transformed into a modern and exciting art form of singing and entertaining, characterised by close harmonies delivered with precision and passion.
The women who make up Endeavour Harmony come from all age groups and walks of life – teachers, nurses, secretaries, managers, scientists and mums. Their common bond is a love of singing. “A good ear, the ability to hold their part in tune and a willingness to learn are the main requirements, the rest comes from practice and rehearsals,” says Lea.
Endeavour Harmony is a member of Sweet Adelines International , a worldwide organisation whose mission is to advance the art form of 4 part a cappella harmony through education, performance and competition. There are 25,000 members worldwide.
Awards
2009
Region 34 (Australia) Sweet Adelines competition - May 2009, Hobart
1st Place Chorus (72 on stage) - score of 652.
This is the highest score ever achieved in Australia and puts the chorus into the "Excellent" category of A-.
2008
City of Sydney Eisteddfod
1st Place Open Show Choir
Finalist - Open Choral section
2007
McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge
1st place in the John Lamble Australasian Championship for Community Choirs held at Sydney Town Hall.
Sweet Adelines International Competition, Calgary Canada
Representing Australia internationally, we gained the highest score on debut for an Australian chorus appearing at international.
2006
Finalist, ABC Classic FM Choir of The Year - August 2006
Endeavour Harmony Chorus made it through the auditions (more than 60 choirs auditioned in NSW) and we were selected as one of 4 NSW finalist choirs to compete in the adult section of the NSW state championships, held at the Sydney Recital Hall on Friday 4th August. Whilst we didn't take out the 1st place, which went to the wonderful University of Newcastle Chamber Choir, we thoroughly enjoyed singing in such a beautiful venue (designed for that purpose) to a packed house. The audience were very responsive to our repertoire. We sang Old Songs, Old Friends, Let There Be Peace On Earth, Beethoven's 5th Symphony (well our version of!), Candle On The Water, I Still Call Australia Home and All That Jazz. We were thrilled to be asked to sing live on Sydney ABC Radio 702 the Tuesday before, during James Valentine's afternoon program.
Region 34 (Australia) Sweet Adelines Competition, May 2006, Brisbane
1st place chorus (64 on stage). Score of 613.
In Brisbane on 20th May 2006, Endeavour Harmony competed against 22 other choruses from around Australia and brought home the gold! This is the first time a NSW chorus has won the national championship. We also scored our highest score ever, 613 points - making our chorus Musical Director, Lea Baker a 'Master Director'.
The chorus was eligible to represent Australia in the 2007 International Competition of Sweet Adelines, being held in Calgary, Canada.
State Finalists ABC Classic FM Choir Of The Year, May 2006. Endeavour Harmony have been selected for the NSW state finals being held on Friday night, 4 August in the Sydney City Recital Hall, Angel Place. Four finalists were selected from the choirs that auditioned.
2005
McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge
1st place in the John Lamble Australasian Championship for Community Choirs.
Sutherland Shire Council
The chorus was a finalist for 'Community Group of the Year'.
2004
Region 34 (Australia) Sweet Adelines Competition, June 2004, Adelaide
2nd Place in AA Mid Sized Chorus Division (40 - 65 singers on stage)
3rd Place Overall
McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge
1st place in the "Show Choir" section
2nd place in the "Open Community Choir" section
2003
McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge
"Highly Commended" in the Open Choral section.
2002
McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge
Endeavour Harmony Chorus takes 1st place in the Barbershop Chorus
section
and 3rd place Australian Choral Work section. Finalists in the GIO
Awards Open Chorus section June 2002.
Region 34 (Australia) Sweet Adelines Competition, June 2002, Wollongong
2nd place in the AA chorus
competition (40 - 65 singers on stage)
3rd place overall
2001
McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge, August 2001
We achieved 1st in the Barbershop/Sweet Adelines Chorus Award, 2nd
in the Open Choral Award and 2nd in the Australian Choral Award
2000
In Perth 2000 Australian national competition in Perth, achieved the following awards:
Most improved chorus (152 points) 1st place Division A (39 singers or less on stage) chorus award. Our high score ranks us the 7th highest scoring Division A Sweet Adelines chorus in the world.
Previous Performances
Some of the choruses other recent performances include:
- Endeavour Harmony Chorus in Concert - Sutherland Entertainment Centre
- Bankstown City Council Carols in the Park
- Wiley Park Carols by Candlelight
- 'Great Hymns at the proms' event held by the Randwick Proms Chorus
- 'Harmony and Brass spectacular' with Waringah Concert Brass
- Australia Day Celebrations, Carss Park (Kogarah Council)
- Westfield Carols By Candlelight, Caringbah
- Recording backing vocals for 'Happy Feet' movie at Fox Studios, Sydney
- 'Happy and Glorious 2', With Sutherland Shire Brass at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre
- ABC Classic FM Choir of the year - NSW state finals, Sydney Recital Hall
- Lidcombe Catholic Club
- Carols by Candlelight, Hazelhurst Cottage
- McDonalds City of Sydney Performing Arts Challenge
- Sutherland Hospital Charity Opening
- Kogarah Council Citizenship Ceremonies
