Where We Have Come From
Our Beginnings
Counterpoint Chamber Choir was formed early in 1996, to prepare for a performance in August of that year. This once only concert followed the allocation of a grant to Maitland Arts Council, from Sydney Arts Council, with the purpose of presenting a concert by local performers for local people, thereby supporting and encouraging local talent.
The choir was formed by Maitland music teacher, Helen Tuyl, gathering a group of musically minded Maitland friends together. The performance was under the direction of Anthony Heitmeyer and was accompanied by pianist Chip Paull. This original ensemble consisted of 14 members, four in each female vocal part and three in each male vocal part.
After the First Concert
Having experienced the shared joy of that initial performance, the choristers were keen to continue, however director and accompanist were both unavailable. Local ABC announcer John Clarke was invited to conduct the group and Dr Sylvia Ireland took over as accompanist. The choir developed and improved under John’s direction and the repertoire expanded greatly to satisfy the ever-increasing number of performances.
Our Directors
Throughout the years, Counterpoint Chamber Choir has been directed by several highly accomplished and talented regional musicians who have brought a variety of styles and approaches to the repertoire and presentation. In addition to Anthony and John, our podium has been graced by Kathryn Geoghegan, Evanne Sherringham, Robb Dennis, Ellery Durrant and Victoria Stanmore, and Elaine Barnes.
In 2022, following a substantial hiatus caused by COVID-19 and with the resignation of Elaine Barnes due to relocation for work commitments, local musician and teacher, Karen Drury accepted our offer to take over the directorship of Counterpoint Chamber Choir. She has successfully brought the choir back to public performance standard following the difficult times of 2021 and 2022. The repertoire has been expanded with the inclusion of several, new, early music pieces as well as several very contemporary ones, written during COVID. Old favourites, however, are still part of the repertoire.
Counterpoint Chamber Choir Directors and Conductors
| Anthony Heitmeyer | 1996 |
| John Clarke | 1996 - 2000 |
| Kathryn Geoghegan; John Clarke; Heather Russell-McLaren | 2000 - 2001 |
| Kathryn Geoghegan | 2001 - 2003 |
| George Garnsey; David Porter | 2003 |
| Evanne Sherringham | 2004 - 2013 |
| David Porter; Elaine Barnes | 2013 - 2014 |
| Robb Dennis | 2014 - 2016 |
| Ellery Durrant & Victoria Stanmore | 2017 |
| Elaine Barnes | 2018 - 2021 |
| Karen Drury | 2022 - 2024 |
(Conductors during an interegnum shown in italics)
Our Accompanists
Over the years, Counterpoint Chamber Choir has also welcomed some very talented local pianists as accompanists and repetiteurs since our original pianist Chip and her successor Sylvia. Along with a number of guest accompanists, our piano stool has been very ably occupied by Gilbert Beveridge, Marcia Wall, Margaret Kavanagh, Leanne Swanson, Megan O'Neill and recently Dierdre Ditton, who resigned at the end of 2022 after a significant number of years at the keyboard.
In 2023 we were pleased to welcome Tyler Dean-Brinkley, a young local musician to provide our rehearsal accompaniment and assist the bass line in our a cappella numbers. Singing members Jo Loi, Margaret Kavanagh and Wendy Gibbs, along with Tyler have provided accompaniment for performance where required.
Karen has also introduced a number of other instrumental accompaniments to our repertoire, using guest musicians and choir members.
Counterpoint Chamber Choir Accompanists and Repetiteurs
| Chip Paull | 1996 |
| Sylvia Ireland (with assistance from Jackie McMichael and Kathryn Geoghegan) | 1996 - 2004 |
| Gilbert Beveridge | 2005 - 2006 |
| Marcia Wall Margaret Kavanagh |
2007 - 2010 |
| Deirdre Ditton | 2011 |
| Gilbert Beveridge | 2012 - 2013 |
| Leanne Swanson | 2013 |
| Megan O'Neill | 2015 |
| Margaret Kavanagh | 2016 |
| Deirdre Ditton | 2016 - 2022 |
| Tyler Dean-Brinkley | 2023 - |
Counterpoint Chamber Choir Guest Accompanists
| Marcia Wall |
| Phillip Sketchley |
| Giles Manley |
| Callum Close |
| Jo Loi |
| Margaret Kavanagh |
| Wendy Gibbs |
Our Singers
Of the 14 foundation members, five continue to sing with the group. The choir has expanded several times over the years and now has a membership of up to five per vocal part with the opportunity of an additional student member in each part.
