Austinato June 2022

The ABCI is incredibly fortunate to enjoy an ongoing collaboration with SAE Creative Media Institute. Choir parent Gareth Parton, SAE’s Audio Department Co-ordinator, brokered the collaboration to impart ‘real world’ learning opportunities for SAE students while generating invaluable archival recordings of ABCI performances.

In 2004, a young chorister stood in uniform on stage and received a badge in front of family, friends, and the entire ABCI community. It would be some time before he fully realised the distinction conferred when the badge was pinned to his lapel.

Uģis Praulinš wouldn’t be the first former choir boy who turned to rock music. As a child, Prauliņš sang in the boys’ choir of Riga’s impressive medieval cathedral. He returned to his choral roots in 2002 after decades of playing in Latvian rock bands, writing the the spine- tingling Missa Rigensis for his alma mater.

This year marks 20 years since the ABCI last attended AmericaFest, a 10-day festival that brought together choirs from around the world. The invitation-only, bi-annual event was held from 1994 until 2002. In 1998, 2000, and 2002, the Australian Boys Choir and The Vocal Consort represented the country with distinction, both musically and in their conduct.