FROM THE CHAIR

The Australian Boys Choir takes the best aspects of music, artistic endeavour, talent, inspiration, and education to create a unique programme of musical training for boys and young men. Through 84 years of musical excellence, we have strived to achieve our mission ‘to deliver the highest standards of choral music training and performance, enabling individuals to realise their potential’. As the Choir has an auditioning process for entry, each boy has musical talent, but they need to be taught the essentials of singing using the Kodály method. This provides the fundamentals for lifelong musical education.

We are fortunate to have outstanding, talented, and dedicated music staff, led by our Artistic Director, Mr. Nicholas Dinopoulos. However, it is more than teaching music. It is involving the boys and young men in professional performances and tours that really leads to their personal and musical development. There is no better example of this than the finale of the recent Sing Joyfully concert at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne, which involved all of the training and performing choirs of the ABCI. It was clearly amongst the best concerts in my time involved with the Choir, and it was a fantastic experience for all of the singers involved.

The ABCI’s recent AGM presented a summary of last year’s activities (the 2022 calendar year) and the financial report. As 2022 was a ‘rebuilding’ year for the Choir following two years of pandemic-induced restrictions to rehearsals and performances, the Institute had a deficit. However, this result was after two years of significant surpluses owing to COVID-19 government support and prudent financial management by the Institute. These surplus funds have been set aside in a ‘COVID-19 recovery fund’ to continue the great work of the Choir. Additionally, the ABCI formally wound up the V.J. Kelly Memorial Choir House Trust, and will use the funds in an investment portfolio to assure the long-term development of the Choir. The Institute has a sound financial base, outstanding music and administrative staff, and a stable governance structure

The AGM was the last meeting for Mr. Andrew Westcott as an ABCI Director owing to his increasing professional work commitments. Andrew joined the Board in 2016 and became the Honorary Secretary in 2017, a position in which he served with distinction until 2019. He kindly stayed on as a Director until this AGM. There is no doubt that Andrew has been a critical element in the stable transition through some difficult moments over the years. He has been an outstanding contributor to the ABCI over many years. I will miss his great intelligence, thoughtfulness, strong work ethic, thoroughness, support, and wise counsel. Many thanks go to Andrew for his splendid contributions to the ABCI.

Professor Stephen Duffy, ABCI Board Chair