CONSORT SINGER ANISH NAIR

Anish Nair is a member of The Vocal Consort. TVC joins with the Australian Boys Choir for two performances of ‘Requiem for an Empress’ at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Ballarat on May 15, and at Sacred Heart Church, Carlton on May 16 alongside dulzian player Simon Rickard.

Anish, when did you join The Vocal Consort?
I joined The Vocal Consort in 2013 after I graduated high school and wanted to continue singing post Kelly Gang.

What are the key things you learnt as part of the Australian Boys Choir?
The Australian Boys Choir was highly impactful in building self-confidence, teamwork skills, and an ambition for excellence. I was a shy child, and rising through the ranks and gaining skills alongside kids who also enjoyed music developed a great sense of camaraderie that allowed me to open up more. Additionally, having to rehearse and perform alongside all the various groups of the Australian Boys Choir, there’s a real sense of wanting to strive to be better for your peers.

What do you enjoy most about singing in an ensemble?
There’s something so satisfying about tuning chords just right, whether it’s in the middle of overlapping phrases or at the end of a piece, and looking around at all your friends singing and smiling too. You just know that everyone’s here because they love singing as well.

What are you looking forward to about Requiem for an Empress?
Renaissance Polyphony is one of my favourites to sing, and this concert has one of the best in the Requiem for Six Voices by Victoria. Made even more special with the chants of the ancient funeral rite included, I think it’ll be quite the experience.

What do you like about singing Renaissance music?
I love the shapes of the phrases, how they wordpaint from the strong declaratory lines to the soft pleading ones. There’s a lot of variety and drama which is always a fun challenge to sing.

What is the Vocal Consort like behind-the-scenes?
Since all of us have come through the Australian Boys Choir, The Vocal Consort feels like hanging out with your friends that you’ve known for ages, sharing funny concert and tour memories while getting in a rehearsal every now and then.

What advice do you have for boys aiming to make it to the Performing Squad?
Keep practicing! The Performing Squad is made up of individuals who love singing and have the musicianship skills to really show that, and so you need to embrace every lesson learned through rehearsals, tutorials, and concerts. The more you practice, the more fun you’ll have singing, and eventually you’ll get the opportunity to enjoy showcasing your talents with the Performing Squad.