Welcome to St Laurence Music Inc.
Purpose
St Laurence Music Incorporated was established in 2001 to promote the appreciation of choral, organ and orchestral music through performances, recordings, tours and scholarships at or in association with Christ Church St Laurence.
Activities
The principal activities of the organisation are concert performances, recordings, occasional tours both within Australia and abroad, and provision of scholarships for further training in singing or playing or the study of music.
Since its conception, St Laurence Music has provided funding for a number of activities. In January, 2005, a grant was awarded for a chorister to attend the Royal School of Church Music Summer School that was held at St Paul’s College, University of Sydney. Early in 2006, St Laurence Music assisted a young conducting student with the cost of air travel incurred in attending Symphony Australia conducting workshops with symphony orchestras in Adelaide, Hobart and Brisbane. Late in 2006, St Laurence Music awarded five traveling grants to full-time students who participated in the Choir of Christ Church St Laurence tour to Great Britain and the USA.
In 2022, we are pleased to be able to provide $7,000 to fund the new position of Assistant Conductor of the Choir of Christ Church St Laurence. This position is filled by Amber Johnson and we wish her every success. The on-going funding of Choral Scholarships continues. Through this program we aim to attract new young singers. This initiative is vital in keeping the standards high and the choir young. We will disburse up to $6,000 p.a. to each of those who are appointed choral scholars. In summary, grants of funds will be made available in 2022 which exceed $52,000 (for scholarships alone).
Other grants will also be made such as commissions of new pieces of music. Recent commissions have included: Joe Twist’s Misa Brevis (2020), Oscar Smith’s Evening Canticles St Laurence Service (2020), Fiona Loader’s carol Angelus ad virginem (2020) and most recently Brooke Shelley’s carol Viri Galilaei (2021). In 2022, commissioning of another setting of Evening Canticles in being considered. In Lent, we proudly supported the beautiful performance of J.S. Bach’s St John Passion and at Christmas in 2021, we supported the successful and exciting performance of Handel’s Messiah. Both concerts were enthusiastically received after so many interruptions to musical performances due to COVID-19. Earlier in 2021, we provided funds for recording sessions which will feature in a new audio recording of music for Ascension, Pentecost and Trinity. The organisation also provides advertising and funds for the successful series of Sunday afternoon monthly organ recitals performed ahead of Evensong by local and overseas artists to keen audiences.
The St Laurence Music committee continues to make sure it provides funds to support a range of associated activities with the money already given in donation.
How to Donate?
Please be aware, especially if you are tidying your tax affairs before the end of the financial year that tax deductible donations can be made to our Donations Funds. At present the Donations Fund contains a total which is just over $300,000.00 and we do expect to be disbursing over $80,000.00 in the next twelve months to cover the range of programs described above.
Funds can be transferred electronically to St Laurence Music Inc Donations Fund,
BSB 032-005, Account Number: 47-3639.
Please send an email with your name to c.johnston@ccsl.org.au and a receipt will be issued.
Cheques should be made payable to St Laurence Music Inc Donations Fund.
If you would like to receive an informative copy of the choir's newsletter, please send an email to c.johnston@ccsl.org.au and you will be added to the distribution list.
The name St Laurence Music Inc is reserved with the NSW Department of Fair Trading, and St Laurence Music Inc has been included by the Federal Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts on its Register of Cultural Organisations.
Funds must be used in pursuit of the purpose of the Association. It is a not-for-profit organisation and is prohibited from distributing profits to members. Any profits generated can only be used for the principal purpose.
Tax Deductability
St Laurence Music Inc is intended to attract tax-deductible donations to be used in fulfilling its principal purpose. It can accrue funds that will allow long-term accumulation of capital resources. This will gradually enhance the standard and depth of musical expertise on hand for the parish in years to come.
It is, however, an Association independent from the Parish of Christ Church St Laurence. It is not intended to detract from the CCSL Choir’s primary purpose of providing music in the service of the Parish.
The Australian Taxation Office has granted St Laurence Music Inc gift recipient status. This means that all donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Funding
St Laurence Music provides funding for groups and individuals to assist in further training in singing, playing, the study of music as well as public performances. Individuals as well as groups can apply for assistance from St Laurence Music at any time. Funds must be used in pursuance of the objectives of the organisation.
The Members of St Laurence Music Incoporated
Fr Daniel Dries (Chairman), Craig Johnston (Secretary & Public Officer), Sam Allchurch, Susan Allton, Brenda Hunter, Vivian Lam.