A SEASON OF SONG IN FULL SWING

After a magnificent opening gala in March, this year’s ABCI concert season is now in full swing. With twists, turns and special guest artists around every corner, it’s been a swashbuckling start to the year and the Institute’s next public outing, titled Songs of the Sea, promises to enchant with two May performances in both Ballarat and Melbourne.

Again pursuing a themed series of programs in 2023, Artistic Director Nick Dinopoulos has promised ‘more singers and more songs’, with most events this year offering elements of massed singing and some stunning additions to the Choir’s repertoire.

Also on show are some outstanding guest artists, including some of the Institute’s most accomplished alumni.

Chief among them is Raphael Wong, fresh from his Sydney Opera House debut last year as Phantom in Opera Australia’s Phantom of the Opera. Audiences will be delighted that he is set to feature prominently in these two ABCI concerts coming up in May.

The start of Raph’s musical journey will sound familiar. Joining the Australian Boys Choir as a Probationer in 1997 before becoming a member of the Performing Choir in 2000, his voice ultimately changed in 2003. Moving to The Junior Consort (now known as The Kelly Gang) was the obvious next step, but Raph would also go on to become a key member of The Vocal Consort from 2006 to 2012, as well as serving on the Institute staff.

What has followed is more unusual: an enviable career in Opera and Musical Theatre, with notable engagements right around Australia. Being able to welcome Raph back to perform this season is an enormous boon for the ABCI.

On developing into an opera singer over time, Raph is of the view that ‘opera is a slightly different beast to choral singing but much of it is very similar - if anything it’s like choral singing but everything is dialled up a fair few notches!’