The Luminescence Chamber Singers have marked The Canberra Times' 100th birthday with a special performance that celebrated the newspaper's century of service to the community. The concert, held at the National Library of Australia, featured a program of works by local composers, including a new piece commissioned for the occasion.
A Century of Stories
The Canberra Times was first published on September 3, 1926, and has been a cornerstone of the Canberra community ever since. To commemorate this milestone, the Luminescence Chamber Singers, a renowned vocal ensemble based in the capital, presented a concert that reflected the newspaper's role in documenting the region's history.
Musical Tribute
The performance included works by Australian composers such as Ross Edwards and Elena Kats-Chernin, as well as a new composition by local musician and composer, Dr. Holly Harrison. The piece, titled "The Paper of Record," was written specifically for the event and drew inspiration from the newspaper's archives and its coverage of key moments in Canberra's development.
The choir's artistic director, Dr. AJ America, said the concert was a fitting tribute to the publication. "The Canberra Times has been a vital part of our city for a century, and we wanted to honor that legacy through music," she said. "The response from the audience was wonderful, and it was a privilege to perform for such a special occasion."
Community Celebration
The event was attended by staff, readers, and supporters of The Canberra Times, as well as members of the broader Canberra community. The audience was treated to a diverse program that showcased the choir's versatility and the richness of Australian choral music.
The concert also included a reading of excerpts from historic editions of the newspaper, selected by the choir to highlight key moments in the city's history. These ranged from the opening of the Australian War Memorial to the 2003 Canberra bushfires.
The Luminescence Chamber Singers have long been associated with innovative programming and community engagement. Their performance for The Canberra Times' centenary was no exception, demonstrating the power of music to bring people together and celebrate shared history.
As The Canberra Times enters its second century, the concert served as a reminder of the important role that local journalism plays in the life of the community. The newspaper's commitment to telling the stories of Canberra and its people was reflected in the music, which captured the spirit of the city and its residents.
