Gondwana Voices is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1997 by Lyn Williams, a renowned Australian conductor and composer. The ensemble is made up of young singers aged between 10 and 25 years old, who are selected through a rigorous audition process. The ensemble is based in Sydney, Australia, and has gained a reputation for excellence in choral music both nationally and internationally. The founding of Gondwana Voices was inspired by Lyn Williams' desire to create a world-class choral ensemble that would showcase the talents of young Australian singers. Williams had previously founded the Gondwana Choirs, a network of choirs for young people that included the Sydney Children's Choir, the Gondwana National Choirs, and the Gondwana Indigenous Children's Choir. Gondwana Voices was created as a flagship ensemble for the Gondwana Choirs, and its members are drawn from the other choirs in the network. The ensemble's name, Gondwana, is derived from the ancient supercontinent that included Australia, Antarctica, South America, Africa, and India. The name reflects the ensemble's commitment to celebrating the diversity of cultures and musical traditions that are found in these regions. Gondwana Voices has a core group of around 30 singers, who are selected for their exceptional vocal ability and musicianship. The ensemble is led by Lyn Williams, who is widely regarded as one of Australia's leading choral conductors. Williams has won numerous awards for her work with Gondwana Voices and other choirs, including the Order of Australia Medal in 2007 for services to music education. Over the years, Gondwana Voices has performed at some of the world's most prestigious music festivals and venues. The ensemble has toured extensively throughout Australia, as well as to Europe, Asia, and North America. Some of the highlights of the ensemble's performances include: - In 2000, Gondwana Voices performed at the Sydney Opera House as part of the opening ceremony for the Sydney Olympic Games. The ensemble sang a specially commissioned work by Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe, which was broadcast to a global audience of millions. - In 2002, Gondwana Voices performed at the World Choral Symposium in Minneapolis, USA. The ensemble received a standing ovation for their performance of Australian composer Ross Edwards' "Mountain Chant". - In 2006, Gondwana Voices performed at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Kyoto, Japan. The ensemble's performance of "Ngana" by Australian composer Stephen Leek was described as "spellbinding" by the Sydney Morning Herald. - In 2010, Gondwana Voices performed at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. The ensemble sang a program of Australian and Indian music, including a collaboration with the Indian percussion ensemble Taal Inc. - In 2014, Gondwana Voices performed at the Festival of Voices in Hobart, Australia. The ensemble's performance of "The Circle of Life" from the Disney film The Lion King was a highlight of the festival. Gondwana Voices has also won numerous awards for their recordings and performances. In 2008, the ensemble won the ARIA Award for Best Classical Album for their recording of "Southern Crossings". The album featured works by Australian composers, including Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards, and Elena Kats-Chernin. In 2012, Gondwana Voices won the Limelight Award for Best Choral Performance for their recording of "The Snowman" by Howard Blake.

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