The 42 volunteer members of the new Charles Sturt University (CSU) Staff / Student Choir from the Bathurst Campus has won the open choral section of the 61st Bathurst Regional Eisteddfod held last Friday 27 October. CSU choir master Dr Christopher Klopper was delighted by the choir’s performance, especially since it was formed only six months ago and has had only limited rehearsal opportunities. Dr Klopper said “this is just the start for us and we can only build from strength to strength. I’m so proud of the commitment everyone made”. The choir performed two distinctly different pieces, as required by the eisteddfod rules, within a ten minute time limit. The first piece was an “Irish Blessing” accompanied by flautist Stephanie Nicholls, followed by the jazzier ‘Fever’, accompanied on piano by Denise Wood. Dr Klopper is a music lecturer in the University’s School of Teacher Education. He comes from South Africa and began at CSU in February 2006.