Brian’s time with the choir was marked with events that were significant both for the choir and for Australia - the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the arrival of television and the annual Moomba Festival. Brian, with the choir, was involved with all of these events.
Peter Butler’s four years as a chorister (1965 to 1969) instilled many very vivid memories. Peter has the distinction of being the most widely engaged old boy in the Choir’s history, laying claim to roles as teacher, conductor, accompanist, founding TVC member, composer, soiree host, committee member, Registered Member and Board Member.
Graham Cox began his career as an accompanist… to himself, as a 9 year old Probationer with the Australian Boys Choir.
Elwynne Stafford is well placed to comment on the recurring themes of the Australian Boys Choir. Her family’s involvement has spanned over 50 years and all five Music Directors and she was appointed an Honorary Life Member of the ABCI in 2017.
Like most boys, Chris Burgess joined the Choir at around 9 years of age after choir representatives visited his school. In Chris’s case the school visitors were actually from another boys choir but he auditioned and was selected for the Australian Boys Choir. He was fortunate to tour internationally twice.
I auditioned for the Australian Boys Choir at the age of eight, singing My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music. My Choir weekends began straight after school each Friday, with a commute involving two buses and a tram to reach Choir House.
As an internationally acclaimed tenor, Dominic Natoli is accustomed to life in the limelight, entertaining audiences throughout Europe, the USA, Australasia, Japan and South East Asia for over 30 years.
Derek Welton’s music career has well and truly taken off, having secured a fixed contract with one of the major German opera houses starting in September 2015.
My relationship with singing and music began with The Australian Boys Choir. Every Saturday morning, instead of standing on a sporting field, I explored and learnt about the intricate world of music through singing.