PERFORMING SQUAD MEMBER JOSHUA

Joshua is a member of the Australian Boys Choir Performing Squad. He is thrilled to be performing in Bach’s monumental St. Matthew Passion on March 24 at the Alexander Theatre, presented by Monash Performing Arts Centres. Please see www.australianboyschoir.com.au/whats-on/concerts for more information.

Josh, when did you join the ABCI?
I joined the ABCI in 2019 in Year 2, so this is my 5th year in the ABCI.

What do you enjoy most about coming to Choir?
The thing that I enjoy most about coming to Choir is preparing for an upcoming concert. You get a sense that your hard work has finally paid off on the day of the concert.

How is choir different from school?
Choir to me is very different from school. One of the main reasons is that it’s a non-judgemental and super supportive community. From my experience, school can be a pretty brutal place sometimes and I’ve had times where school doesn’t feel like a happy place. On the other hand, Choir lets you take a step away from your worries and you can forget about your unhappy emotions and enjoy music making.

What are you most looking forward to about singing the St. Matthew Passion by Bach?
I am most looking forward to singing another one of Bach’s most famous music pieces. Bach has always been one of my favourite composers ever and I love listening to his music. I got a lot of enjoyment singing Bach’s Mass in A major at the Christmas concert last year and I’m sure the St Matthew Passion will be just as exciting.

What's rewarding about singing in a choir?
Something that is really rewarding about singing in a choir is that you get to have a group of friends outside of school. Meeting new people that you don’t know can turn into lifelong friendships. Creating music together is magical.

Who are your favourite singers and why?
My favourite singer is Tom, from the Kelly Gang. He helped me settle into the Squad when I first joined.

What about your hobbies and activities outside singing?
Some of my hobbies and activities include gaming, reading, playing the cello and piano, listening to music, and writing fictional stories.

What do you hope to do with your singing after you move on from the Performing Squad?
Once I move on from the Performing Squad, I want to stay with the ABCI for as long as possible and keep working on my voice, maybe even joining the Kelly Gang. I want to keep singing in groups or in musical productions.

What is the most important thing you’ve learnt in the ABCI about being a singer?
You have to be the best version of yourself at all times, and even if you don’t always succeed, trying your hardest is the most important thing.

Lastly, what advice do you have for boys hoping to make it to the rank of Senior Singer?
Some advice I would give to boys aiming to make it to the rank of Senior Singer is to keep persevering through challenges that you may come across, and eventually your hard work will pay off. It doesn’t matter what the result it, but what matters is that you’ve tried your best. Also remember there are lots of people who will support and help you at ABCI.

Click below to watch an excerpt from J.S. Bach's Lobet den Herrn BWV 230 performed alongside The Vocal Consort and organist Michael Fulcher at St. Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne in August 2023.