Dr. Carl Crossin OAM – conductor, educator, composer & arranger – is widely respected as one Australia’s leading choral conductors. Carl has worked with choirs professionally and at all levels of education, and is currently Associate Professor of Music at the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music where he is Head of Vocal, Choral & Conducting Studies.
Carl is Founder and Conductor Emeritus of the multi-award winning Adelaide Chamber Singers, an internationally acclaimed chamber choir he formed in 1985 and subsequently led for 36 years. He stepped down from his position as Artistic Director and Conductor of ACS at the end of 2021.
Carl’s guest conducting appearances have included a number of Australia’s leading choirs including the Sydney Philharmonia, Melbourne Chorale, Sydney Chamber Choir, Brisbane Chamber Choir, The Giovanni Consort (Perth). Carl has worked with the National Youth Chamber Choir of Australia on several occasions since 1998, and was Artistic Director and Conductor of the choir between 2008 and 2014. Carl has also been Co-Conductor of the nationally auditioned youth choir Gondwana Chorale since 2011. Over the past 30 years, Carl has toured with his various choirs to Britain, Europe, South-East Asia, Japan, New Zealand and North America and has been a guest presenter and adjudicator at festivals and competitions throughout Australia and internationally.
As a composer, Carl has written almost exclusively for voices and his compositions and choral arrangements are increasingly in demand, both within Australia and internationally.
In 2007, Carl was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to music and, in 2021, was inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame.
| Title | Description | Composer | Voicing | |
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Everyone Sang (SSAA) |
A delightful, joyous piece imbued with a sense of wonder throughout, Carl Crossin’s Everyone Sang is a fantastic addition to any concert programme. Incorporating birdsong with piano, cello and voices, this is a wonderfully atmospheric piece, and sure to be a great success. Highly recommended! |
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Everyone Sang (SSAATB) |
A delightful, joyous piece imbued with a sense of wonder throughout, Carl Crossin’s Everyone Sang is a fantastic addition to any concert programme. Incorporating birdsong with piano, cello and voices, this is a wonderfully atmospheric piece, and sure to be a great success. Highly recommended! |
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Mater Dolorosa |
New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link. The original SATB version of Mater Dolorosa was composed for conductor Jillian McGregor and the Corinthian Singers of Adelaide for a Good Friday concert in the Art Gallery of South Australia’s Radford Auditorium in April, 2011. The work was subsequently revised and expanded (SSATBarB) in 2013, and was premiered by Adelaide Chamber Singers – conducted by Carl Crossin – at the Musica Sacra a Roma in Rome, Italy in July 2013. Mater Dolorosa is a setting of the first four stanzas of the 13th century Marian hymn Stabat Mater Dolorosa, a much longer poem which expresses Mary’s sorrow as she stood at the foot of the cross witnessing her son’s death by crucifixion.
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Part Needle, Part Thread |
Part Needle, Part Thread was composed in 2020 for the Adelaide Chamber Singers, though due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was unable to be performed at the World Choir Games in Belgium as intended. It was later video recorded by the Adelaide Chamber Choir for online release. The text by Ann Nadge explores the delicate connection between love and time, describing that connection as an entity, a process and a protection against emotional darkness. Carl Crossin, effortlessly weaves the voices between each other, painting the metaphor of needle and thread before time seemingly stops in the dramatic B section. Listen below. |
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Rise (SATB) |
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carl Crossin writes that the brief given to him in the commission of this work was that the song be “uplifting and life affirming” – and that it certainly is. A wonderful piece for secondary choir. “Rise” is also available for SSAA voicing. |
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Rise (SSAA) |
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carl Crossin writes that the brief given to him in the commission of this work was that the song be “uplifting and life affirming” – and that it certainly is. A wonderful piece for secondary choir. “Rise” is also available for SATB voicing. |
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The Parting Glass |
The Parting Glass is essentially an arrangement of a traditional Irish melody and has an alternative 2nd verse. The recording by the Adelaide Chamber Singers, was conducted by Carl Crossin in 2021.
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The Road Not Taken (SATB) |
This poignant piece, written for the Seymour College Chamber Singers, is based on the poem by the same name by Robert Frost. The text tells of a traveller who comes across a fork in the road and decides to take the road less travelled – a moving reflection on life’s decisions. Composer Carl Crossin’s decision to include violin adds a further element of emotion to an already very stirring piece. Highly recommended, particularly for youth choirs. |
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The Road Not Taken (SSAA) |
This poignant piece, written for the Seymour College Chamber Singers, is based on the poem by the same name by Robert Frost. The text tells of a traveller who comes across a fork in the road and decides to take the road less travelled – a moving reflection on life’s decisions. Composer Carl Crossin’s decision to include violin adds a further element of emotion to an already very stirring piece. Highly recommended. |
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We Are The Future (SATB) |
A wonderfully uplifting piece with solos throughout, We Are The Future is highly recommended for youth choir. With text adapted from year 8, Brighton Secondary Student, Paris Maddern’s poem “The Future”, this joyous piece for SATB or SSA choir carries a strong, youthful voice and sings of their hope for the future, and their role in it. “And I cry at the glowing blaze of disaster in this world Yearning to reshape it, let goodness be unfurled Perhaps I am not good enough Perhaps my strength exceeds me, The world will see me.” “We Are The Future” is also available in SSA voicing. |
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We Are The Future (SSA) |
A wonderfully uplifting piece with solos throughout, We Are The Future is highly recommended for youth choir. With text adapted from year 8, Brighton Secondary Student, Paris Maddern’s poem “The Future”, this joyous piece for SATB or SSA choir carries a strong, youthful voice and sings of their hope for the future, and their role in it. “And I cry at the glowing blaze of disaster in this world Yearning to reshape it, let goodness be unfurled Perhaps I am not good enough Perhaps my strength exceeds me, The world will see me.” “We Are The Future” is also available in SATB voicing. |
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Winter Stars (SATB) |
This piece for choir, piano and flute paints a cloudless winter night – the piano and flute adding a crisp clarity to the atmosphere. A lovely piece for secondary choir, and a great addition to your concert programme. “Winter Stars” is also available in SSAA voicing. |
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Winter Stars (SSAA) |
This piece for choir, piano and flute paints a cloudless winter night – the piano and flute adding a crisp clarity to the atmosphere. A lovely piece for secondary choir, and a great addition to your concert programme. “Winter Stars” is also available in SATB voicing. |