2022 MID-YEAR APPEAL

We need your help to bring music back to life

‘Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy the Dinosaur’ – as my two year old belted out one of his Top Ten Hits (another was Big Red Car) from his shopping trolley podium while I trundled up and down the aisles, noting the amusement (mostly!) of other shoppers, I was oblivious to the opportunities that lay ahead. I just knew my son loved to sing.

But had our local primary school not welcomed a visit from the Australian Boys Choir to assess the musical potential of students, I may have remained oblivious.

Ironically, my son didn’t attend the Choir’s school assessment session – he was too scared. Instead, he came home devastated that he had ‘missed out on joining the Choir’. I rang the Choir office and he was invited to attend an audition.

That was the first step on a remarkable journey that has seen both of my sons progress through all of the Choir’s training levels to achieve the highest rank of Chorister. My eldest now enjoys singing with The Vocal Consort and my youngest with the Kelly Gang. The life skills they have learnt along the way would fill another page.

The journey has taken my sons, along with my husband and daughter and myself, to some of the most incredible music venues in Melbourne, regional Victoria, Australia and the world. Exposed us to music so beautiful that we have been incredulous, elated and moved to tears, often simultaneously. Fostered treasured friendships that will last a lifetime. And opened doors to opportunities beyond anything we had imagined.

And now it has led me to take on the role of General Manager, after more than a decade volunteering my time to support the Choir in many ways - as a Carer for concerts, residential camps and tours; assisting the Stagewear and Concert Teams; and contributing to and leading the Marketing and Design Team.

Why is the Australian Boys Choir so special?

In a world that so often underestimates the capabilities of children and is too willing to accept mediocrity, it embraces choral singing as an artform and encourages each of the boys to strive for their best, both individually and as a group.

The pursuit of excellence, the sense of community and the underlying commitment to tolerance and respect permeate every aspect of the organisation.

If you are reading this letter, I am sure you know these things as well as I do.

But it is an organisation that depends on the generosity of its community to really shine, never more so than right now, as we take our first steps out of the shadows of the pandemic.

Please, would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Australian Boys Choir at this critical time? Together we can bring the music back to life and show the world how beautifully boys can sing!

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth Lindner
General Manager
The Australian Boys Choral Institute

The Australian Boys Choral Institute/The Australian Boys Choir Fund is an endorsed Deductible Gift Recipient. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.