The Australian School of Performing Arts was established in 2009, founded on a desire to ensure that all children, teachers and communities have the opportunity to experience the enduring, significant and powerful benefits of engaging in the performing arts.
Humble beginnings
The Australian Girls Choir (AGC) was established in 1984 by Judith Curphey OAM, with 150 girls rehearsing in four classes in the Melbourne suburb of Burwood and Judith as the sole tutor. Today the AGC is proud to have 6500 girls learning to sing, dance and perform in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
AGC sets the stage
The founding philosophy behind the AGC is that every child can learn to sing given encouragement and training, and the dynamic and inclusive curriculum is designed to cater to varying abilities and confidence levels. The senior performance groups have shared the stage with outstanding artists including Pharrell Williams, Olivia Newton-John and on tour with Hugh Jackman, released several CDs, and performed for audiences including Pope Benedict XVI, the King of Tonga, Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II.
ASPA is born..
After experiencing the profound and positive impacts of the performing arts through the AGC, Judith was compelled to extend these opportunities to students and teachers and communities who may not otherwise have access to them. Since it’s establishment in 2009, ASPA Education (formerly Australian Arts Alive) has engaged thousands of participants in many and varied programs – providing performing arts workshops and holiday programs, creating choreography for school concerts, directing school musicals and facilitating professional development sessions for teachers and early childhood educators.
Happy 42nd Birthday to @ausgirlschoir! 🎈
We love watching young performers shine, whether it’s on iconic stages, travelling the world, or mastering every detail that makes a performance sparkle. Every moment is full of laughter, learning, and confidence at AGC!
Here’s to 42 years of incredible achievements and the adventures still to come! 🎀
Mar 7
Sydney, it`s your turn for `Inspire Your School Choir`! 🎤
We’re thrilled to be running our Teacher PD in Sydney today! We can’t wait to dive into the fun, confidence-building content we’ve designed to spark fresh ideas and reignite your creativity as a performing arts educator. This clip from our Melbourne PD last week is just a small glimpse of the energy, collaboration, and practical takeaways we’ll be sharing today.
We’re so looking forward to connecting with passionate educators and working together to inspire vibrant, joyful choirs! ✨💙
Mar 6
Our mission is to deliver high-quality performing arts experiences that inspire every child to shine. ✨
Watch your students learn and present dazzling performances; meanwhile, behind the scenes, we are providing teachers with the expertise and support to ensure lasting impact beyond the stage. We’re passionate about equipping educators with practical tools, creative strategies, and the confidence to continue engaging students in the performing arts!
Visit the link in bio to discover how ASPA Education can support your school. 💙
Mar 4
Our first Teacher PD for 2026, `Inspire Your School Choir`, began in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne on Friday, and we were so thrilled to collaborate with the passionate performing arts teachers who participated! 💛
The day was filled with engaging, confidence-inspiring content that equips teachers with the skills and knowledge to deliver vibrant and sustainable performing arts programs in their schools. Thank you to all who came along. 🎤
We are excited to run this workshop in Sydney this Friday and Perth next week! Register for one of the final places today via link in bio.⭐
Mar 2
