A Chorus of Women began with 150 of us entering Parliament House and singing the Lament for the people of Iraq that led the 7.30 Report on 18 March 2003, when Australia went to war.
Twenty years on, the Lament has become a call for action on climate change as well as peace and social justice. We continue singing up public wisdom in our original songs, major productions and civic conversations.
On 21 March 2023 we returned to Parliament House,. This time we were welcomed when we sang our Lament again, with a call to the People's Chorus to turn Lament to Renewal.
'We give our voice to the Song of Life
We give our promise to children and Earth
We sing for peace through the power of love
So lament will turn to renewal'
(words by Glenda Cloughley)
Read more about our singing in Parliament House on 21 March 2023 on our Highlights page
Watch ABC news coverage of the event here:
2022 recipient of the ACT Chief Minister's Rotary Peace Prize
Read more on our .Highlights page
NEWS
UN Summit of the Future 2024 Roundtable
On 6 August 2024 A Chorus of Women has been invited to sing at the opening of the Canberra Roundtable about the UN Summit of the Future this September in New York. The roundtable will be held at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, our home base. The event is being organised by the University of Melbourne's Initiative for Peacebuilding, the United Nations Association of Australia and the Australian Institute of International Affairs (ACT).
A Chorus of Women goes international
'Ubuntu':
I am who I am, because of you.
We are who we are because of each other'
This song of ours has been included in the Quakers songbook for their International Plenary meeting this year in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 5 - 12 August. The theme is 'Living the Spirit of Ubuntu'.
'Ubuntu' also featured in an online event organised by ReAct Latin America, entitled 'Dancing with our friends, bacteria'. ReAct is concerned with the problem of bacteria resistance to antibiotics. The aim is to move from a war metaphor against bacteria to one of living in harmony. Here is the website about the event which was held on 27/28 June 2024.
You can watch a video of us singing 'Ubuntu' here.
Planning for future Anzac Eve Peace Vigils
On 24 April we held our 14th Anzac Eve Vigil. This will possibly be the last Vigil in this venue and format.
If you attended a Peace Vigil this year or in previous years we invite you to complete our online survey to assist with the of planning future vigils.
News
Vale Glenda Cloughley
1952 - 2023
Photo: Barb Baikie
With heavy hearts we share news of Glenda Cloughley’s death on 21 September 2023.
Glenda initiated the singing of a Lament for the people of Iraq which led to the formation of A Chorus of Women in March 2003. Since then she has written much of our music including two major works – The Gifts of the Furies and A Passion for Peace/The People’s Passion.
As a Jungian analyst, cultural psychologist and singer-composer, Glenda has brought a unique creative and prophetic spirit to the peace, justice and environmental movements in Canberra and beyond. Her passing leaves a deep sense of loss.
'Remembering Glenda'
There was an event celebrating Glenda’s life at the Chapel of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACC&C) in Barton on 13 December.
Hosted by A Chorus of Women with her family and Jungian friends, the event wove together stories and music from Glenda’s life.
Go to our Remembering Glenda page for more detail, the recording of the event, and links to obituaries, tributes and other stories.
EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE WITH US
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with other like-minded people and organisations. We have organised conversations, singing seminars, and have prepared artistic contributions to public events, as well as our own major choral works.
