The evening will feature eight leading choirs from Canberra, Melbourne and the Blue Mountains competing in the Open Choral Groups and the Australian Open Choral Challenge, which has a $3000 prize and a trophy.

During the daytime, also at Llewellyn Hall, the Open Age and Championship sections will take place, then the evening will commence at 7pm with the Open Choral Groups section, which features five smaller choirs of up to 15 members. Debacle Quartet will be followed by Perfect Sixth and Vocalocity (from Melbourne and Leura), the Daramalan College Alumni Choir and Lady’s Mantle. The repertoire is varied, from traditional (an arrangement of “Scarborough Fair”) to popular (Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel”).

Entrants in the night’s Open Choral Challenge are Vocal Fry, Concordis Chamber Choir and Brindabella Chorus.

ANU Vocal Fry is an energised group of 30 Canberra high school students who love quality ensemble singing and are keen to develop their musical and performance skills. It will perform four pieces, including works by Henry Purcell and Igor Stravinsky, and will finish up with their own arrangement of “Waltzing Matilda”.

Concordis Chamber Choir from Melbourne is one of Australia’s most accomplished choral ensembles.  Its three pieces are based around the current refugee crisis, man’s inhumanity to man and the frenetic energy of a Lithuanian folk tune.

The final entrant, Brindabella Chorus, is a Canberra women’s barbershop chorus which has been entertaining audiences with four-part a cappella harmony since 1991. In May, Brindabella Chorus competed in the annual National Women’s Barbershop Chorus Championships and were awarded first place in the Midsized Chorus category (31 – 60 voices) and second place overall. Tonight the chorus will present five pieces, ranging from “Somewhere over the Rainbow” to “Viva Las Vegas”.

The Australian National Eisteddfod, Open Choirs, 7pm-10pm at Llewellyn Hall, Saturday, September 19. Program details at nationaleisteddfod.org.au and bookings to ticketek.com.au or 132 849 or at the door.