Halcyon
Regarded as a leading light in the field of new music, Halcyon presents stunning performances of vocal chamber music from around the world, with a special emphasis on Australian content.
Founded by intrepid singers Alison Morgan and Jenny Duck-Chong, over the past 19 years the ensemble has commissioned many works for voice and instruments, performing new repertoire around Australia at music festivals, through its own concert series and at industry events including the prestigious Paul Lowin Awards, where it has been acknowledged as a powerful influence on the growth of this repertoire and associated on many occasions with short-listed and winning pieces.
Halcyon is a tireless mentor to emerging musicians and composers, presenting concerts and workshops on vocal writing and contemporary Australian repertoire to secondary school music students, tertiary composition and vocal students and their teachers both locally and at interstate institutions.
Now directed solely by Jenny Duck-Chong, Halcyon continues to bring vocal chamber music works to a wide audience through concert programs, educational workshops and presentations and their YouTube channel. A growing number of their commissions and other important Australian works are now available as studio recordings through Move, Tall Poppies, Wirripang and their own self-releases. Cool Black is Halcyon's debut studio CD.
Halcyon is featured on the following titles
From the Hungry Waiting Country
Three astounding works by Elliott Gyger are presented by Halcyon, featuring the thrilling voices of Jenny Duck-Chong and Alison Morgan with some of Australia’s best performers. Challenging music that rewards every listen, full of mystery and glistening textures, its narrative holds you to the end.
Producer
This Moment Must Be Sung: Chamber Songs of Andrew Schultz
A special recording of chamber vocal music by Australian composer Andrew Schultz. Halcyon—Alison Morgan and Jenny Duck-Chong with a fine instrumental ensemble—has championed his writing for one and two voices across two decades.
Kingfisher
This CD is the result of a daring project to commission 21 composers to write new works for Halcyon's two singers, Jenny Duck-Chong and Alison Morgan. Presented over two concerts in their 15th anniversary year, and then recorded at Trackdown.
Members of Halcyon
Jenny Duck-Chong
Mezzo-soprano Jenny Duck-Chong is a versatile performer of classical and contemporary repertoire and artistic director of the Sydney new-music ensemble Halcyon.
Alison Morgan
Soprano Alison Morgan is one of Australia’s foremost interpreters of contemporary classical vocal music. Across more than 25 years she has built a career on demanding, often virtuosic new repertoire as chorister and soloist.