ON THE ROAD AGAIN

SING JOYFULLY
22 November 2023
VOLUNTEER MAGIC
22 November 2023
SING JOYFULLY
22 November 2023
VOLUNTEER MAGIC
22 November 2023

ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

After a four-year hiatus, the Australian Boys Choir was excited to be touring again in September, this time in western Victoria. The five-day tour included performances in Hamilton, Portland, Warrnambool, Colac and Ballarat.

Setting off from Choir House early on Sunday morning, there was much excitement as the Choir headed to Hamilton. The red hoodies were a hit, worn with pride at each stop and standing out in the spring sunshine, and certainly making it easier for the Caring Team to spot any strays!

The first performance was at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Hamilton with audience members travelling from as far afield as Drysdale. The audience was captivated with the quality of the recital and could not sing the Choir’s praises enough.

The repertoire for the program, selected by Artistic Director, Nicholas Dinopoulos, consisted largely of music by Australian composers, including Dan Walker, Lyn Williams and Peter Sculthorpe, with other pieces including John Rutter’s For the Beauty of the Earth and Johann Michael Haydn’s Laudate Pueri. Talented ABCI teacher, Timothy Mallis accompanied the Choir on organ and piano throughout the tour. Songs about the wind and the sea complemented our destinations, around wind farms and the coastal landscape

In Portland’s St Stephen’s Anglican Church, the Choir enjoyed its largest audience who delighted in the encore, Jerusalem.

Warrnambool saw Paul Barker, one of our Old Boys (1964-68), in the audience at St Joseph’s Catholic Church. What a treat for some of the performers to chat to him and compare notes of their experiences in the Choir.

At Colac’s St John’s Anglican Church, not only was the Choir treated to a splendid afternoon tea, but also received a standing ovation from the appreciative audience.

Attendees at the church concerts enjoyed engaging with members of the Choir during the interval. Chatting about how long they had been in training, their ages and their favourite songs of the tour, the audiences were delighted to meet the personalities behind the performance. Some of the singers were excited to have family spanning several generations attend the concerts.

The final performance of the tour was a pop-up in the Victoria Theatre at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, introducing the Choir to tourists and locals alike.

The main purpose of any tour is to share our splendid music with the public, but a range of activities were also scheduled, including a walk to Seal Bay at Cape Bridgewater and standing atop the highest cliff in Victoria. The wind farms were remarkably calm (despite storm warnings the previous week), limiting the blowhole from splashing high, but the stunning coastline, waves and Petrified Forest were enjoyed by all.

Visits during the tour included Flagstaff Hill Museum to experience an old whaling village, Yeodene Treetops Adventures where several boys overcame their fear of heights and took on the rope and zip line courses, and Sovereign Hill to pan for gold, watch gold pouring, tour the mines and see how old-fashioned lollies were made.

The singers were praised along the way, with staff at lodgings impressed with their behaviour and stunned that they did not hear a peep out of them at night. Years of attending Weekend Workshops and Summer Camps had paid off to ensure the Choir was tour ready, assisting with tasks, having quiet time, and representing the Choir with respect and pride.

The Caring Team and Music Staff loved seeing the teamwork and growth within the Choir over the fi ve days of the tour, such as helping each other to pack their bags, using their spending money to buy treats for others, sharing in the loading and unloading of the bus, whilst showing genuine appreciation of the effort and organisation required to make a tour happen. Moments such as these are rarely seen on stage; our singers are provided with vital opportunities to grow as individuals, into fine young adults.

 
 

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