GUEST ARTIST ANISH NAIR

GUEST ARTIST LACHLAN MCDONALD
4 December 2022
GUEST ARTIST ALEXANDER RITTER
7 December 2022
GUEST ARTIST LACHLAN MCDONALD
4 December 2022
GUEST ARTIST ALEXANDER RITTER
7 December 2022

INTERVIEW WITH GUEST ARTIST ANISH NAIR

Anish Nair is a Melbourne-based tenor and alumnus of the Australian Boys Choir. He is thrilled to be performing as a featured soloist with his ensemble ‘Fiore’ in the final instalment of the ABCI concert season for 2023, ‘Sing of Christmas’ on December 10 at the prestigious Melbourne Recital Centre alongside the Melbourne Baroque Orchestra. See www.australianboyschoir.com.au/whats-on/concerts for more information.

Anish, when did you join the ABCI?
I joined in 2003, following in my brother’s footsteps. I actually didn’t get in on my first try at age 7 as I think I was too shy.

What are you most looking forward to about this year's end-of-year ABCI concert?
I’m feeling pretty stoked that Fiore can sing for the ABCI in this come full circle moment! The Bach is a wonderful piece, and of course seeing all the generations come together with the audience for some really great carols always has everyone feeling pretty amazing.

What can the audience expect from this performance?
A historically informed, sensitive performance of some classic J. S. Bach with the excellent Melbourne Baroque Orchestra, The Vocal Consort, and the Performing Squad who are always musically well beyond their years. I’m also sure that the ever-innovating Nick might also have some exciting new Christmas tunes up his sleeve too!

What are the key things you learned when you joined the ABCI?
Where do I begin? The education I received through the ABCI gave me a very noticeable head start when I began professional singing. Ensemble skills, sight reading, how to work with others, how to lead your section while singing or managing groups on tour, and ultimately confidence in my own skills both through music and otherwise.

Why did you choose to sing with Fiore as a founding member of the ensemble?
Having grown through the ABCI with Lachlan McDonald and Alex Ritter, I already knew they were both becoming excellent musicians and becoming as equally obsessed with choral music as I was. Add in Monika Harris, long time friend of ours and current ABCI tutor, and it slowly dawned on us that the perfect blend of choir nerd, friends, and the right voice parts (SATB) was staring us right in the face! After singing in so many choirs over the years, we decided it was finally time in July 2022 to try our hand at our own ensemble, our own programs, our own interpretation, and see where we could take it. It has been a challenging but hugely rewarding experience so far, and we couldn’t have been happier to receive the invite to perform as soloists for an organisation so special to us.

What’s rewarding about performing choral music?
I find one can sense something magical shimmering in the air, particularly with perfectly tuned voices. Voices can also be so unique, and so achieving that fine balance and sound individually in your own part and together with others is incredible satisfying, and really creates something much greater than the sum of its parts.

Who are your favourite singers and why?
Tough question - I would probably say Bruno Mars. Aside from having a great voice, ridiculous range and great tunes, the massive stage presence combined with his 110% attitude creates an atmosphere that you just can’t look away from, and is key to any performance, I think.

What have been your favourite concerts to perform in as a singer at the ABCI?
There are so many, but the standout ones were probably the Indonesia tour in 2005 and the Night at the Opera concert at Hawthorn Arts Centre in 2021. The culture shock of touring Indonesia, performing a gorgeous arrangement of 'Bengawan Solo' and having thousands of people cheer for us was unforgettable, and I thoroughly enjoyed performing the dramatically rousing opera choruses for the 'Night at the Opera'.

What do you do when you’re not singing?
I work at an environmental consulting firm, manage the National Youth Choir of Australia, and am lucky enough to have many opportunities to enjoy traveling the world with friends and family.

Finally, what advice would you give to boys in the Choir now – and those hoping to join?
Music has really given me my whole life - friends, relationships, jobs (even jobs not related to music!), once in a lifetime experiences, and a massive community of people who share the same love for singing that I have. Even if it’s not a career for you, the experiences you will get through concerts, tours, and just hanging out in rehearsals might be some of your most treasured memories in life. If you haven’t joined yet, there are so many opportunities waiting for you, and life is much more interesting saying yes to all of them…


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Next Concert: Sing of Christmas

Presented by Australian Boys Choral Institute and Australian Digital Concert Hall
Sunday 10 December 2023 at Melbourne Recital Centre

Celebrate Christmas this year with the Australian Boys Choir at Melbourne Recital Centre in the very heart of the city. Nicholas Dinopoulos leads nearly 200 singers of the Australian Boys Choral Institute and The Vocal Consort in this unmissable festive gala event. Featuring guest artists Fiore, tickets are now on sale!
Click here to purchase digital and in-person tickets today!