JUNIOR SINGER BENJI

Benji is a Junior Singer of the Australian Boys Choral Institute. He is excited to be performing as part of the ABCI 2023 Season Opening Gala ‘Songs for the Open Road’ on March 19 at Deakin Edge alongside The Vocal Consort and the Australian Boys Choir Performing Squad.

Benji, when did you join the ABCI?
I joined as a Probationer in September 2020. We started and ended on Zoom, so I enjoy being able to sing at Choir House now.

What do you enjoy most about coming to Choir?
That I get to project my voice and sing with others.

How is Choir different from school?
Tutoring and getting the chance to sing regularly are things that I don’t get to do at school very often.

What are you most looking forward to about 'Songs for the Open Road' at Deakin Edge?
Singing all the new songs that I have learnt, like ‘Past Life Melodies’ and the alto part for ‘You, Me, and the Wide Open Sky'.

What is one of the most important things you've learned in the ABCI about being a singer?
To always have fun and keep your head nice and straight while making a round sound.

What's rewarding about singing in a choir?
That no matter what happens, you’ll always have fun and friends on your side.

What are the older boys like outside rehearsals? Fun to be around or very serious?
The Senior singers and Kelly Gang/Cambiata boys are just bigger and older versions of us. If we know who we are, we can get along easily.

Who are your favourite singers and why?
My mum (because she’s my mum) and Jason Arrow (the guy who played Hamilton when we went to see it in Melbourne).

What advice do you have for boys hoping to make it to the rank of Junior Singer?
Keep on going the way you are and make your voice sound as beautiful as ever. But don’t forget to HAVE FUN!