The Australian Boys Choir
Encyclopedia
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 suburb
s of Melbourne
, presents an annual subscription series of formal concerts, as well as other engagements (television
, radio
and film
). Films that the choir
have provided soundtrack
s 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 composer
s, 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. 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'. In 1989, the choir went on a world tour which ended in New York.
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.
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
based in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Its artistic director is Noel Ancell OAM
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, 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 suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, presents an annual subscription series of formal concerts, as well as other engagements (television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
). Films that the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
have provided soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s for include the Oscar-nominated 'Elizabeth
Elizabeth (soundtrack)
Elizabeth is the original soundtrack of the 1998 Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning film Elizabeth starring Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Richard Attenborough and Joseph Fiennes...
', and the Australian box office hit 'The Dish
The Dish
The Dish is a 2000 Australian film that tells the story of how the Parkes Observatory was used to relay the live television of man's first steps on the moon, during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969...
' .
Known for its extremely broad repertoire of music, The Choir has performed pieces conceived by many composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s, including J.S. Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
, Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
, John Rutter
John Rutter
John Milford Rutter CBE is a British composer, conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, mainly of choral music.-Biography:Born in London, Rutter was educated at Highgate School, where a fellow pupil was John Tavener. He read music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the...
, Noel Ancell, Mahler, Tchaikovsky and Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
. 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. 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
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. The choir also tours in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Recent national tour locations include Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and Bendigo. A tour has been planned for Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in September for the 'Kelly Gang'. In 1989, the choir went on a world tour which ended in New York.
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
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
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.