FROM THE CHAIR

It was truly wonderful to attend a live performance of The Vocal Consort and the Australian Boys Choir in late March after a fifteen-month hiatus. We were treated to a great concert of operatic pieces in A Night at the Opera at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. Guest artists included the baritone Stephen Marsh and pianist Andrea Katz. There were several beautiful solos from both TVC and the Choir. They were all led by our Artistic Director, Mr. Nicholas Dinopoulos, who conducted with great aplomb.

It is an enormous credit to Nick, our music staff, and our General Manager, Ms. Katie Whitecross, that we kept the various choirs of the Australian Boys Choral Institute together through the long days of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Their online musical programme kept all the boys engaged and enthusiastic. Now that we are all working together again, we can be assured of ongoing success.

During the COVID-19 crisis of 2020, the ABCI Board was committed to keeping all of our staff. We were fortunate to receive government grants and obtained significant funding via ‘Job Keeper’, which meant that, despite halving the tuition fees for the last three terms of 2020, we had a surplus for the financial year. We have set aside most of this surplus as contingency against uncertainties in 2021. The generosity of our longstanding donors has also been a windfall in these challenging times. The ABCI Board will present these positive results in our annual report at the AGM in May 2021. Unlike many arts’ organisations, the ABCI remains in a strong position, with all our staff and boys still with us. This is due to our wonderful musical and administrative staff, and the loyalty of the Choir families. Working together during this time of adversity has ensured success.