Abide With Me: Burgundian Consort Joins UNSW's First Dawn Service

Anzac Day Dawn Service
Image: Sonia Maddock

For the first time, UNSW worked with the UNSW Regiment to hold the inaugural ANZAC Day Dawn Service on campus beginning at 5am on 25 April 2021. 

"It was a great honour to sing at this event with the Burgundians."

The UNSW Regiment, an Army Reserve Recruit training unit based at UNSW, hosted and provided the Catafalque Party and the service was delivered by UNSW’s Anglican Chaplain Rev Carl Matthai. Students from different faculties (planned by the Anglican Chaplaincy) delivered the readings and laid wreaths on behalf of the student community. There were over 200 in attendance, from colleges and other parts of the university community.

Soprano with the Burgundian Consort, Alison Jiang, said "This is a totally new experience for me. I had never sung at dawn, unaccompanied."

"This is a totally new experience for me. I had never sung at dawn, unaccompanied."

"I was a bit nervous at first since it was very solemn. It is a wonderful experience that we, as musicians, served in the community that we love. In addition, although the piece was without music instruments, we had been harmonising the sound by carefully listening to each other and adjusting as it went. In the Burgundians, you may find that the sense of solidarity and oneness is everywhere. I’m very proud that we served as one. It was a great honour to sing at this event with the Burgundians."

Other speakers included Neil Morris, Director of Wellbeing; Dr Bill Peirson, Master of New College; and the address by Lieutenant Colonel Garth Callender, Commanding Officer of the UNSW Regiment.

In addition to the bugler and bagpiper, members of the Burgundian Consort led the hymn Abide with me