“This group of young people were nothing short of brilliant”
- Canberra CityNews
The Luminescence Children's Choir came together for their first performances in September and December 2015, and became a permanent ensemble in July 2016. Since then, the Luminescence Children's Choir have performed at national institutions and world-class concert venues, including Parliament House, the National Portrait Gallery, the High Court, the Sydney Opera House, Hobart Town Hall, and Federation Concert Hall. In addition to regular performances in Canberra, the choir has toured to Hobart, Melbourne, and Sydney, and appeared at a number of major Australian music festivals, including the Canberra International Music Festival (2019, 2022), the Festival of Voices (Hobart, 2018), and the Gondwana World Choral Festival (Sydney, 2019).
Luminescence performs a wide range of music, from the Renaissance polyphony to newly commissioned works. Choristers learn to sing in many languages across a range of genres, and regularly collaborate with professional artists and composers. Performance highlights include acclaimed performances of major works such as Benjamin Britten's Children’s Crusade (Canberra International Music Festival, 2023), Vivaldi’s Gloria (2022), recordings and appearances for at the launch of Skywhale: Every Heart Sings with the National Gallery of Australia, and performances of the Australian National Anthem in English and in Ngunnawal language at the Australia Day National Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony (January 2023).
Luminescence Children’s Choir hosts an annual winter holiday program for singers ages 7 - 12.
The Luminescence Children's Choir is an auditioned treble choir for singers aged 10 - 17. The ensemble is dedicated to excellence in performance and offers young singers holistic and high quality musical experiences and education. The choir offers young people a safe and creative space to express themselves through singing, and fosters a life-long love of music and the arts, as well as enduring friendships.
Conducted by AJ America, the Luminescence Children’s Choir has rapidly established itself as one of Canberra’s premier programs for young performers.
Applications Open Now for 2025
Hear from our choristers
“For me, it’s the easiest way to show
the universe who I am”
Luminescence Children’s Choir chorister
Hear from our families
“Luminescence has been the most remarkable experience for our girls.
It has tested their self-discipline,
taught them to listen and to hear things they didn’t before, broadened their cultural bearings, and cemented new friendships, both at home and on tour - all while showering them with the singular gifts that music brings.”
— Luminescence Children’s Choir parent
Every Heart Sings: We Are the Skywhales
In early 2021 Luminescence Children’s Choir joined forces with Jess Green (aka Pheno), Patricia Piccinini, and the National Gallery of Australia for ‘Every Heart Sings’. This choral arrangement of Jess Green’s ‘We Are The Skywhales’ was created for and premiered by Luminescence Children’s Choir, and was performed live as the Skywhale family took flight.
Recorded January 2021, National Gallery of Australia
Ceremony of Carols: Wolcum Yole!
Benjamin Britten’s ‘Wolcum Yole’ from A Ceremony of Carols
December, 2020
”A Luminous Christmas’
Wesley Uniting Church
Alice Giles, Harp
Directed by AJ America
Choristers on camp (2019)
Performing at the Sydney Opera House for Gondwana World Choral Festival (2019)
Choristers on camp (2020)
With composer Jess Green, artist Patricia Piccinini, Papa Skywhale at 'Every Heart Sings', National Gallery of Australia (2020)
Performing from the balcony of the High Court of Australia (2019)
With Prime Minister Albanese after the Australia Day National Flag Raising Ceremony (2023)
Performing at Parliament House (2016)
On stage at Canberra International Music Festival, alongside soprano Chloe Lankshear and countertenor Tobias Cole (2018)