2011 MID YEAR CONCERT

What an exciting evening's entertainment. The Performing Choir embraced the challenge of staging Richard Rodney Bennett's children's opera All The King's Men. Under the creative direction of Chris Bradtke, the boys sang the story of King Charles and his attempt in 1643 to take the city of Gloucester during the English Civil War. The Gloucester Townsfolk foiled the attempt. It is from this historical event that the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty arose with the original 'Humpty' being a large war machine that rolled into the river and broke after failing to take hold as a temporary bridge.

Humpty Dumpty's story evolved over time from a river disaster to a wall disaster, but all the King's horses and men remained as part of the legend. The boys were accompanied by a wonderful small orchestra which included Robyn Cochrane and Philip Carmody at the piano.

The Junior Choristers opened the concert gaining further performance experience as part of their training. The remainder of the first half performed by the senior choir. The audience applauded most enthusiastically, and families particularly enjoyed seeing all boys take part in the opera production.

We must thank our wonderful wardrobe team for all of their costume preparations and our parents who assisted with sets and props.

CONGRATULATIONS

(L-R): Judith Hooper and Colin Seedy, Finance Director NBCA

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS AND ARTS FOUNDATION AWARDS (AbaF)
WOODSIDE BETTER BUSINESS AWARD

We congratulate NBCA and Judy Hooper, who together won the Woodside Better Business Award at the recent Victorian AbaF Awards.

The award recognises a business person who has worked in partnership with an Arts organisation or artistic project, contributing substantially with time and effort. The presentation was made at a function held in Melbourne on 5 September. AbaF releases a Gold Book with details of all state and national prize winners. NBCA is proudly represented in the 2011 publication.

On behalf of NBCA we congratulate Judy and thank all parents and the extended choir community who have assisted Judy on the many and varied fundraising projects.

SIMON CASEY RECORDS WITH GRETA BRADMAN

Greta Bradman movingly sang Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem at the funeral of her grandfather, the Aussie cricketing legend, Sir Donald Bradman. Many people questioned why it had not been recorded. Finally, after 10 years, Greta found herself in Scots Church Melbourne with the Australian Chamber Choir and NBCA soloist Simon Casey doing just that. Pie Jesu has been recorded as part Greta's second album Grace which was released recently by Sony Music.

We are delighted that Greta will be guest artist at the NBCA Annual Christmas Concert at Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash on Saturday 17 December 2012.

NBCA AUCTION DINNER

The word FUN was definitely the key to the recent FUNdraising Auction Dinner. Despite the chilly June evening a capacity crowd filled the function room at Federation Estate Ringwood.

These events don't 'just happen' - they are months in the planning and the Dinner Committee, under the guidance of Judy Hooper, did a magnificent job of hunting and foraging, scrounging and collecting an eclectic array of items for both the silent and live auctions. Particular thanks to Auctioneer Tim Heavyside of Fletchers Real Estate who entertained guests with his banter and enthusiasm for emptying the pockets of keen bidders.

LA BOHEME

La Boheme (photo courtesy Jeff Busby)

Simon Casey, Julian Dods and Tom Lerk joined the cast of Opera Australia's recent production of La Boheme

CARMINA BURANA

Twenty boys joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for the three performances of Orff's Carmina Burana in June this year.

A BIG piece of music in all respects – over 200 singers and two pianos joined the full orchestra on the extended stage of the Melbourne Town Hall and Robert Blackwood Hall playing to capacity audience – yes, definitely an exciting piece of music.

2011 NSW/ VICTORIAN REGIONAL TOUR

Many hands make light work...bumping in

As has become the custom, 42 boys set out on tour during the September school holidays. After recent years of trekking nationally and overseas the decision was made to stay a little closer to home and visit some major regional areas in New South Wales and Victoria.

An extra challenge for this year's tour was to take All The King's Men on the road – measurements were taken, sets were reduced, costumes and props culled and the coach trailer hired. It was a nervous wait for parents (and staff) as the trailer was packed on departure – every inch of space was utilised – and this was just for the production. Suitcases and extraneous touring paraphernalia were loaded in the bins under the coach!

The Choir headed north to Corowa, Wagga Wagga, Orange, and Dubbo then over the Blue Mountains to Wollongong, down south to Cootamundra and back to Victoria via Corryong. The warm welcome and reception for the boys was overwhelming and repeated at every stop. The audiences were receptive to the quality performances and often rewarded the boys with standing ovations.

"...Last night I had the opportunity to attend a performance of the National Boys Choir. Wow! What a fantastic musical event. To be able to attend an evening of such professional standard is a privilege."

"...thank you for the absolutely brilliant and very enjoyable concert … my husband and I were both astounded at the quality and clarity of all the beautiful voices..."

"...Could you please pass on to the artistic directors and the boys my absolute delight in attending the concert on Tuesday night. I thought the concert was extremely well organised and performed to an exceptionally high standard."

STANDING IN THE WINGS

We share news of the Performing Choir but little is said of the two years spent training in the Elementary and Junior Choirs. The boys in these two groups are tutored not only in the basic singing techniques that lay the foundations of their choral education, but equally important is stage discipline and performance practice.

Initially the training staff of Alexandra Boemo, Peter Finnigan and Ruth Tenace are sufficiently challenged to have the boys stand still long enough to sing a short round. Parents are invited for a peek at the end of term one. A public debut is organised for term three where all the procedures of a formal concert are followed – the results are quite amazing. The larvae have been hatched. They are hungry and keen to hone their skills. Training continues.

Joining the cast for the annual Christmas Concert is a highlight that completes the two year transformation as the boys move into the Performing Choir.

They have tasted the stage and bright lights and there's no stopping them now...

ON THE HORIZON

MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra' 2012 season has been announced. Missa Solis by the Australian composer Nigel Westlake will be performed at the Melbourne Town Hall in February next year. Simon Casey will sing the solo treble part. Another NBCA chorister (Jordan Janssen) sang this role at the premiere of this work in February 2011.

In August 2012 the National Boys Choir of Australia will also take part in performances of Mahler's Third Symphony.

The Choir will also join the MSO and Chorus for performances of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring in October 2012. These performances will be held in the newly refurbished Hamer Hall, with the movie to be screened to a live music 'soundtrack' from the choir and the MSO.