Formed under the expert guidance of Patrice Connelly, the Society was incorporated on 23 June 2000. Since that time it has a proud record of achievement in serving the needs of players in Australia and New Zealand by holding workshops and producing a quarterly newsletter and an annual journal entitled 'Chelys Australis'. Isssue 7 was launched at the 2008 Easter Viol School in Sydney. Issue 8 is currently in progress.

Our main activity is the annual 4 day Easter Viol Workshop held at various locations around Australia. The 2010 workshop planned for Canberra has now been switched to Bermagui on the New South Wales south coast. This switch was made at the request of our Musical Director for the workshop Miriam Morris and enables the Workshop to take advantage of the flying visit of Paolo Pandolfo to Bermagui for the Four Winds Festival (see www.fourwinds.com.au). He will give a solo recital and it is hoped a workshop at the school. Other tutors will be Sarah Mead (USA), Polly Susssex (New Zealand) and Victoria Watts (Melbourne). The venue for the workshop will be the Bermagu Public School. For information about attractions of the Bermagui area and also accommodation see www.bermagui.net.

Click here - to download the enrolment form and brochure.

For other useful information about viols including free pdf music downloads and photos of the recent viol school please enter the site.

Members of the Society are invited to create an account as this will enable them in the future to view the most recent issue of Chelys Australis and the most recent newsletter.

Please note that this web site is still under develoment and will be added to over time.