| Australian Boys' Choir | |
|---|---|
| Founding | 1939 |
| Website | http://www.australianboyschoir.com.au/ |
The Australian Boys' Choir is an all male children's choir based in Melbourne, Australia. Its artistic director is Noel Ancell OAM, M.A., B.Mus. (Hons), B.Ed, F.T.C.L. Formed in 1939, the choir are well known for their reputation of being the "First and Finest" boys' choir in Australia.
The Choir is based in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, presents an annual subscription series of formal concerts, as well as other engagements (television, radio and film).[1] Films that the choir have provided soundtracks for include the Oscar-nominated 'Elizabeth', and the Australian box office hit 'The Dish' .
Known for its extremely broad repertoire of music, The Choir has performed pieces conceived by many composers, including J.S. Bach, Benjamin Britten, John Rutter, Noel Ancell, Mahler, Tchaikovsky and Jim Steinman. The choir has also been assigned various works by modern Australian composers.
The Australian Boys Choral Institute, better known as the ABCI, consists different levels for boys in training and boys (and men) in the professional levels.[2] Using the Kodaly method and starting out at around the age of 7 or 8 are the 'Probationers', who will spend around one or two school terms of basic understanding of musical methods and singing. Following this training stage, there are the 'Tyros', who will spend up to 9–12 months, depending on their abilities, working on more musicality and musicianship. 'Junior Singers' follow the 'Tyros', with an introduction to performance, and more training with voice and musical knowledge. Finally, after months of training, boys will reach the Performing Choir. The Performing Choir is the group who tour and perform professionally; nationally or internationally. If the institute feels as though a Performing Choir member is outstanding and meets certain requirements, they may be in the position of chorister, the highest rank in the choir when the voice is unchanged.
The Australian Boys' Choir also tours frequently. Recent international tour locations include the USA, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The choir also tours in Australia. Recent national tour locations include Tasmania, Canberra and Bendigo. A tour has been planned for Perth in September for the 'Kelly Gang'.[3] In 1989, the choir went on a world tour which ended in New York.[4]
All of the mentioned groups and training levels are when the male voice is unchanged. Once the voices of choristers have broken, they have the choice of continuing being with the choir in a relatively recent group known as the 'Kelly Gang', formally the Junior Consort. The name has not emerged from the notorious bushrangers known as the 'Kelly Gang', but in recognition of the founder of the Australian Boys Choir - Vincent J. Kelly. This is simply a group to help cope with the changing voices of the boys and only occasionally tour and perform. Following the 'Kelly Gang' is the Vocal Consort, which is when members of the Kelly Gang reach adulthood. Some members are invited by the organisation into the Vocal Consort.