Fundraising concert for Synergy, Taikoz and Gondwana Choirs branded a resounding success.

Music lovers flocked to City Recital Hall, Angel Place, on the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday for a fundraising concert for Synergy, Taikoz and Gondwana Choirs. Box office queues stretched out to Pitt Street as people gathered to show their support for the arts and hear a concert that featured 100 performers from seven organisations. The concert came after Synergy, Taikoz and Gondwana Choirs missed out on funding in the “Black Friday” Australia Council funding round and, in a generous show of support, City Recital Hall offered the use of its hall for a fundraising event. Ticket sales raised almost $40,000, all of which will go to support the companies and help shore up their financial futures in an uncertain funding environment.

“The entire team at City Recital Hall are incredibly proud to have hosted such a memorable afternoon of music-making,” said Elaine Chia, the Sydney venue’s CEO, “We’d like to acknowledge and thank Riley Lee, The Song Company, Lingalayam Dance Company, The Australia Ensemble, and musicians from both the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra in generously donating their time to perform. Thanks also to the tremendous audience who took up the call to support the arts in the best way possible – through buying a ticket and attending a performance, raising nearly $40,000 for Gondwana Choirs and Synergy/Taikoz.”

ABC Presenter Simon Marnie’s onstage selfie

“As a not-for-profit company, the Board were delighted to be able to show our support to our partners in this way,” added Renata Kaldor AO, Chair of the Board of Directors.

As well as the organisations being supported, performances included Richard Tognetti and members of the ACO in Bach and Beethoven, Ben Jacks and members of the SSO in a Mozat Horn Concerto and music by Leonard Bernstein and the Australia Ensemble playing Haydn.

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