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Commissioned Works
The Leichhardt Espresso Chorus is committed to the development of new Australian choral music. This involves commissioning new music and updated arrangements of classics for particular events (such as reworkings of traditional carols for the Carols on Norton Concerts).
Since 2002 the choir has commissioned or co-commissioned 115 new songs and 29 new arrangements. Highlights amongst our world premieres are Dan Walker's Mass of Deliverance, Sally Whitwell's Breath of Kindness Suite (3 movements) that was commissioned by The Gentle Exercise Morning Tea Group and major works from leading Australian composers such as Gerard Brophy and Christopher Gordon. As part of its role as choir-in-residence at the annual Moorambilla Festival, LEC has also participated in the premiere of an additional 22 new songs and 7 new arrangements that were commissioned for that Festival. So, over a period of 14 years, LEC has participated in the world premiere of a total of 176 pieces. This is a proud achievement and the choir undertakes regular fundraising activities to ensure we can continue to foster this artistic endeavour.
Our Artistic Director, Michelle Leonard, has written about the process of commissioning new music in her Mentor's Blog on the Australian Music In Communities website. Click here to read her insights into the tribulations and the rewards of commissioning new music.
Chronological list of our Commissioned Works
Premiere Composer Name
2015
28 Jun Dan Walker Last Verses (5 movements)
Owen Elsely On Love (4 movements)
20 Dec Andrew Howes Christmastide Pavane
James Madsen Sotto la Stella
Fiona Loader Christmas in Sydney
William Yaxley There is no Rose
2014
22 Mar Alice Chance Coalescence
14 Jun Sally Whitwell This Paradise Now Suite (6 movements)
Anastasia Pahos The Sseucle Song Cycle (2 songs)
Alice Chance Conjured Characters
Tom Knapp Food for Thought
12 Oct Dan Walker Mass of Deliverance (5 movements)
21 Dec Andrew Howes Silent Night, Glassy Night
Owen Elsely That's Why I Really Like Christmas
2013
14 Apr Gerard Brophy Magnificat Suite (3 movements)
29 June Alice Chance Aesop's Fables Suite (5 movements)
David Basden Rococco Preludes
David Basden Have more than thou Showest
David Basden Times Glory
David Basden Fortune's Goodnight
David Basden 'To See A World
Tom Knapp Lonesome George
1 Dec Anastasia Pahos A Byzantine Carol
Alice Chance Prayer for Harmony
2012
23 June David Basden Eternity
David Basden An Die Musik
David Basden Stand Up and Look At Me
Dan Walker Were All the Stars to Disappear and Die
Dan Walker + Reckless (David Reyne)
Dan Walker + Fileds of Gold (Sting)
21 Sept Ben Van Tienan How Can I Keep from Singing?
23 Dec Alice Chance Three Kings
Alice Chance Christmas Harmony
NB The following work was commissioned by the Gentle Exercise Morning Tea Group and premiered by LEC
23 June Sally Whitwell Breath of Kindness
2011
26 Jun Dan Walker Lines in the Sand (3 movements)
David Basden How Many Miles to Babylon
18 Dec Billie McCarthy Carols on Norton Ten Year Anniversary Blues
Christina Leonard + O Come All Ye Faithful (Trad)
Luke Byrne + O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Trad)
Luke Byrne + Harke the Herals Angels Sing (Trad)
Luke Byrne + Six White Boomers (Rolf Harris)
2010
27 March Luke Byrne Such Country suite (5 movements)
David Basden The Birds
Andrew Schultz Simplify, Simplify
18 Sep Gerard Brophy ^ Moorambilla Dawn
David Basden Ave Maria
David Basden Processional
^ Co-commissioned with Moorambilla Voices
2009
2 March Luke Byrne Immortal Beloved
Sally Whitwell She Walks in Beauty
Sally Whitwell The Song of the Wandering Aengus
5 July Luke Byrne Salmos de Santiago
26 Sept Luke Byrne Back in My Day
Elena Kats-Chernin ^ Baiaime's Ngunnhu suite (6 movements)
20 Dec Dan Walker What Can You See?
^ Co-commissioned with Moorambilla Voices
2008
5 April Dan Walker 
Seven Deadly Sins suite (7 movements)
21 Dec Billie McCarthy I Love Christmas
Sally Whitwell Lute Book Lullaby
Sally Whitwell Hodie Christus Natus Est
2007
5 April Dan Walker + Weep No More (David Childs)
25 Aug Christopher Gordon You Dead Kings Rising
Marco Creazzo Beyond the Sea
Meredith Hope Deep Waters Rising
16 Dec Billie McCarthy Almost Christmas Day
2006
17 Dec Billie McCarthy Billie's Song
Marco Creazzo + The First Christmas
2005
17 Sep Dan Walker Coutts Crossing
Michelle Leonard* Across the Plains (*Arranged: Marco Creazzo)
Michelle Leonard + Bellambi (Matthew Doyle)
Michelle Leonard + Drought/Paint Up (Matthew Doyle)
Michelle Leonard + Shall We Dream (Michael Atherton)
Michelle Leonard & + Sailing in the boat (Trad.)
Marco Creazzo
Michelle Leonard & + Din Din Din (Trad.)
Marco Creazzo
Paul Jarman^ Ride the Spirit
23 Sep Paul Jarman# Narrabri
^ Co-commissioned with Coonamble Shire Council
# Co-commissioned with Narrabri Shire Council
2004
4 Jul Marco Creazzo Ave Maria
12 Sep Joe Accario ^ Volo del Palazzo
Marco Creazzo + Ride On (Christy Moore)
^ Co-commissioned with Moorambilla Festival
2003
14 Sep Christina Mimmochi ^ Silence is the Rock
27 Sep Dan Walker Freshwater suite (4 movements)
21 Dec Marco Creazzo + Away in a Manger
Marco Creazzo + Carol of the Drum
Marco Creazzo + Christmas Day
Marco Creazzo + Ding Dong Merrily on High
Marco Creazzo + Gabriel's Message
Marco Creazzo + God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Marco Creazzo + Good King Wenceslas
Marco Creazzo + Huon Christmas Carol
Marco Creazzo + Mary's Boy Child
Marco Creazzo + Noel Nouvelet
Marco Creazzo + Once in Royal David's City
Marco Creazzo + Silent Night
Marco Creazzo + Star Carol
Marco Creazzo + The Silver Stars
Marco Creazzo + We Three Kings of Orient Are
^ Co-commissioned with Moorambilla Festival
2002
15 Sep Paul Jarman Outback suite (5 movements)
+ indicates that this is an arrangement
