Awards 2018

Mrs Nora Lewis - Nightcliff

Nominated by Mr Graeme Lewis

Seconded by Michael Foley OAM

In 1980, Nora founded the Darwin Concert Band encouraging local musicians to play in a semi-orchestral context and develop their musical skills. The DCB continued to rehearse and present concerts until 1985.

Also in 1980, Nora founded and conducted the Darwin Orlando Singers, an `a cappella' Chamber Choir. This group also presented a number of excellent performances and was part of several community functions. The group disbanded in 1990.

In 1985, Nora was a founding member and assistant conductor of the Darwin Chorale. In 2001, she became the Musical Director, conducting on average 4 major concerts/shows a year, plus performances at Community events such as ANZAC Dawn Services, Bombing Of Darwin Commemoration Services, Police Remembrance Services, Italian Festivals, numerous launches/openings and events, weddings and funerals.

Nora has written many musical scores and arrangements for numerous musical performances and notated parts on request for the Chorale and other groups.

Between 2008 - 2013, Nora co-organised a series of choral exchanges/workshops and concerts with the choirs from two churches in Dili, East Timor. This involved several visits to Dili at her expense. She arranged sponsorship for their singers to come to Darwin to participate in the DSC/Darwin Chorale performance of 'The Messiah'. She also personally paid for all their VISAS.

She has sung in several Arafura Ensemble Concerts.

In 2017, Nora joined Vox Crox specifically to assist the choir in its preparation for a performance tour through Italy. She conducted some content during rehearsals and at the end of the tour, put together a pictorial record of the tour in the form of a coffee table book. All of her time was voluntary including the expense of the production of the book.

Very recently Nora rehearsed the Darwin Chorale over several weeks then conducted the Chorale and a 12 piece Latin band in the wonderful performance of Fiesta Latina.