CONSORT SINGERS DECLAN & IAN

Declan Farr and Ian Damman are current members of The Vocal Consort, as well as both being alumni of the Australian Boys Choir. They are thrilled to be performing in the first instalment of the ABCI’s 85th anniversary concert season in 2024, which also celebrates 40 years of The Vocal Consort. ‘Sweet & Low’ will be performed on March 16 & 17 in both Ballarat and Melbourne. Please see www.australianboyschoir.com.au/whats-on/concerts for more information.

Declan and Ian, what are you most looking forward to about this year's opening gala performance?
Declan: Definitely the repertoire. There are some great TVC classics that I am excited to perform but I’m also looking forward to performing in the massed pieces. I always enjoy singing alongside the next generations of the Institute.

Ian: For me, getting the year started with a program as varied as this is very exciting! While it’s been challenging wrangling all these different moods and characters into one concert, I think there’s going to be something for everyone here.

What can the audience expect from this performance?
Declan: Overall a great choral sound. The talent of our singers and the incredible venues, the vibrancy and tone of the repertoire will really be able to shine through.

Ian: A full institute performance is a fairly rare occurrence at ABCI. There will be singers from all levels of the institute at the Melbourne show, and if the rehearsals so far are anything to go by, you can expect everything from a huge wall of sound to intimate and very personal songwriting.

What are the key things you learned when you joined the ABCI?
Ian: Being but one cog in a machine as old and well oiled as the ABCI has shown me that I am always learning - whether it be from the director, the other music staff or those I’m singing with. Being part of something greater than yourself is a fantastic feeling.

Declan: While I’ve learnt so many skills through the choir, punctuality is one that’s really stuck with me. I always make sure I’m early when I need to be somewhere, as the age old choir saying goes, ‘If you’re not ten minutes early, you’re late.’ Presentation is another big one, especially on tours, knowing that when you’re performing, you’re not just representing yourself but a much larger group.

What's rewarding about singing choral music?
Ian: Teamwork! Problem solving and working towards a common goal is not only great fun but a great way to work on your own skills. Being part of a sound as huge as the one we create is one of the best feelings in the world, especially when the music is just as fun to sing.

Declan: I'd also say the teamwork. Being able to get a piece of music and collaborate with the other singers, sharing interpretations and views of the work, and each week building the programs until you have a really cohesive group of works when it comes time to the performance is great.

What have been your favourite concerts or pieces to perform?
Declan: I love the vibe of singing 'Daemon Irrepit Callidus' by György Orbán. It’s just so ominous and intense and will be a great inclusion our first program of 2024.

Ian: Christmas 2023 was a particular highlight with Bach’s Missa Brevis BWV 234, especially since we were joined by the terrific Melbourne Baroque Orchestra and alumni of the ABCI as soloists. I’m also looking forward to tackling Britten’s 'Hymn to St Cecelia' again later this year as it’s been a personal favourite of mine for a while.

What are The Vocal Consort like behind-the-scenes?
Declan: Incredibly serious, we don’t speak to each other in rehearsals, we only sing! No...it’s a lot of fun, and there heaps of banter between all of us as we’ve know each other for so many years, with most of us going through all of the levels of the ABCI together.

Ian: In my opinion Consort is the perfect blend. We take the music making very seriously and knuckle down in immense detail on all our programs, but since we’re all such good mates it makes it all the more fun when the work is over.

Who are your favourite singers and why?
Ian: Consort is sounding awesome at the moment, so I do enjoy working with everyone there. I also draw inspiration from the Classic King’s Singers line-up, Voces8 and the Gesulado Six. Outside of choral music, I’ll always have a soft spot for the likes of Manyard James Keenan, Larry Graham, Sinatra and Elvis just to name a few.

Declan: I can’t really pick a favourite singer at the ABCI as I enjoy working alongside everyone also. A bit like Ian, I do enjoy listening to different types of singers and hearing how they bring different interpretations to their performances across a wide variety of repertoire.

Finally, what advice would you give to boys in the Choir now – and those hoping to join?
Ian: Have as much fun as you can. You might not even realise that the people sitting next to you could be your closest friends later in life, so do everything you can to enjoy the time you’re spending together. If you’re thinking about giving this all a go - you miss every shot you don’t take!

Declan: Definitely have fun with it. The more you practice and the more you understand the music the more fun you're able to have singing it, and you can fully enjoy each song. Even if you might not enjoy it when you first look at it, try and find moments that you can relish hearing and singing, and find ways to make other parts have the same effect.

Click below to watch members of The Vocal Consort in an excerpt from American composer Randall Thompson's Alleluia recorded live in performance at St. Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne in August 2023.