The University of Newcastle, Australia

The award-winning University of Newcastle Chamber Choir has further cemented its place as one of Australia's leading choirs, winning all its divisions at the weekend's National Eisteddfod in Canberra.

Against an impressive field of top competitors, the Choir won the inaugural Australian Open Choir Championship, the Open Sacred Choral Award, and the Open Contemporary Australian Choral event.

Adjudicators at the event said in their written evaluations it was a strong performance and that the Choir "Sung with confidence and verve. Your performance kept the audience attention riveted throughout. This was impressive virtuosity, and great entertainment. You left us wanting more, bravo!"

Conductor, Dr Philip Matthias, said the Choir's performances generated enthusiastic responses from the 1,000-strong audience and the three adjudicators.

"The adjudicators were high in their praise for the Choir's vibrancy and variety of colour in their sound," Dr Matthias said.

"Different works were required for each of the three events, and the Choir showed its depth and diversity of repertoire."

The Choir sang works by Nigel Butterley, Paul Stanhope, Samuel Donovan, David Drury and a modern arrangement by Ruth Kilpatrick of Bound for South Australia. By winning the Australian Open Choir Championship, the Choir collected $5,000 in prize money.

The Choir's success follows closely from its win at the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge in Sydney in June, and Adult Choir of the Year in the 2006 ABC National Choral Competition.

The National Eisteddfod was held on Saturday 4 August at Canberra Girls Grammar School.