Information current as at SEPTEMBER 2023

Andrew Bainbridge, Artistic and Administrative Director, (03) 9872 4480 (BH)

Choir's Email Address: office@nationalboyschoir.com.au

Choir's Website: www.nationalboyschoir.com.au

Vision statement / Artistic goals: Committed to choral excellence, love of singing, life skills and leadership development

Voice type: All Male Singers - vocal production is based on the traditional European bel canto style

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1964

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 180 Desired:

Musical Repertoire: Wide variety from a capella to major works with Melbourne Symphony, also commissioned works and fully staged children's operas, musical comedy, art songs, folk songs

Musical Directors: Andrew Bainbridge

No. of years in current post: since 2019

Previous musical experience: Andrew began his musical training as a boy chorister at St Paul's Cathedral (Melbourne) at the age of 7, and became a student at Trinity Grammar School (Kew) the following year; he began piano lessons, and later studied the organ under Dr June Nixon and John O Donnell; his piano teachers included Margaret Schofield and Mack Jost; at Melbourne University he studied piano, organ, composition and voice; Andrew worked as a freelance soloist, teacher and keyboard player for several years, including 3 years as principal guest organist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra; he held the positions of Organist and Choirmaster at St John s Church (Toorak) and Camberwell Presbyterian Church, and in 1994 was appointed Choral Director and Head of Keyboard at Scotch College in Hawthorn, and Acting Musical Director of The Tudor Choristers; in 2005 Andrew moved to Hobart where he worked as a teacher at several schools, and for several years was Organist and Director of Music at each of the Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals, Assistant Chorusmaster of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus for nearly 10 years, repetiteur for 5 years, and an occasional keyboard and continuo player. He was accompanist and, briefly, Musical Director of the former Australian Rosny Children's Choir, and Accompanist and Assistant Director of the UTAS Conservatorium Vocal Ensemble; for 10 years he was Musical Director of the Tasmanian Youth Choirs, and founding Musical Director of Tasmania's leading chamber choir, Allegri Ensemble from 2013; he also performed on several occasions as a continuo player with Van Diemen's Band, Tasmania's world-renowned Baroque chamber orchestra; Andrew is a Director of both the Organ Historical Trust of Australia (OHTA) and the Australian and New Zealand College of Organists (ANZCO); he returned to Melbourne in April 2019 to become Co-Artistic and Administrative Director of the National Boys Choir of Australia

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Major works with Melbourne Symphony and Melbourne Chorale/MSO Chorus

Audition: Yes - generally at the age of 7 or 8, and possessing a good musical ear

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: Training Choirs $1,091 p.a.; Performing Choir $1,613 p.a.

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 2

Usual rehearsal night(s): Wednesday-Training Choirs; Monday and Friday-Performing Choir; Friday-Young Men's Choir (ages 14-24)

Suburb: Ringwood

Rehearsal venue: own venue

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Formal uniform, formal robe, Black and White formal, Rehearsal uniform

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 2

Av. No. of Performances/year: 20

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Melbourne Concert Hall, Robert Blackwood Hall

Examples of musical pieces performed: Gloria (Vivaldi) (with SATB men), works by Bach, Perosi, Mendelssohn, Mulholland, Stephen Leek

Touring: Yes - Regional Victoria/Interstate/Overseas

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Incorporated Association administered by a Board, Office Manager

Types of Committees: Fundraising, Library, Wardrobe, Transport, Staffing Assistance

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes