PERFORMING SQUAD MEMBER ROGER

Roger is a Senior Singer in the Australian Boys Choir Performing Squad. He is thrilled to be performing in this year’s mid-season gala as part of the ABCI’s 85th anniversary concert season in 2024. ‘Mystical Songs’ will be performed on August 3 & 4 in both Ballarat and Melbourne. Please see www.australianboyschoir.com.au/whats-on/concerts for more information.

Roger, when did you join the ABCI?
I joined the ABCI in Year 1, at the start of 2019 in Probationers.

What do you enjoy most about coming to Choir?
I enjoy singing and learning new songs and skills with my friends at choir, and also the end result at concerts, as all our effort and hard work pays of and sounds really good. I have been with most of my fellow performers since I joined the Choir, which is basically just one big family, so I have loved being at rehearsals for two nights a week since I was small.

How is choir different from school?
For choir at school, we only have 30 minutes of it every week, and the teacher only learns beginner things like hand signs and makes us sing songs by repeating after her. However, at the ABCI, we all teach each other and learn new things every rehearsal we have with Mr D.

What are you most looking forward to about our next concert?
I am looking forward to putting all the pieces together that we have been working on, doing really well together, and smashing the performance.

What's rewarding about singing in a choir?
When everyone works together and sings together, we all have a good time and share music with many other people.

Who are your favourite singers and why?
My favourite singers are Eminem and Justin Timberlake. Eminem is a good rapper, and I like listening to Justin Timberlake’s songs, as I can feel the rhythm of the music.

What about your hobbies and activities outside singing?
I have many hobbies outside singing. A few of them are swimming (which I do weekly) and chess (which I play in competitions and have earned trophies for). I also play bassoon in orchestras and will go to Vienna to perform in the Golden Hall this July.

What do you hope to do with your singing after you move on from the Performing Squad?
I hope that I will succeed in auditioning for Kelly Gang and stay until I am in Year 12, then join The Vocal Consort.

What is the most important thing you’ve learnt in the ABCI about being a singer?
As a singer in the ABCI, you can’t just have talent or be brainy. You have to have dedication and you have to be willing to contribute.

Lastly, what advice do you have for boys hoping to make it to the rank of Senior Singer?
To make it to the rank of Senior Singer, you have to work hard with dedication and grit, keep your attendance good, and try your best in rehearsals.