EXCELLENCE IS...
WELCOME
At the Australian Boys Choir we provide exceptional music education and training to support talented young singers to grow, learn and shine. We provide boys with the tools and opportunities to develop their musical and life skills. We empower boys to find their voices and encourage them to have a go.
Our people come from a wide variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We embrace diversity in its many forms and we give everyone a chance.We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
We work with families to meet our students’ needs, and work together to help nurture growth. We believe in the strength of the individual and the music we make helps inspire us all to strive for excellence. Above all, we are committed to being inclusive, welcoming and supportive of all members of the Australian Boys Choir community.
Where will choral music take you?
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
2025 CONCERT SEASON
BACH: ST. MARK PASSION (BALLARAT)
Saturday 29 March at 2:00pm Ballarat Central Uniting Church For the opening program of our 2025 season, the Australian Boys Choral Institute joins with Genesis Baroque to present the Australian premiere of Robert Koolstra's reconstruction of J.S. Bach's lost St. Mark Passion. Click for Early Bird tickets.
BACH: ST. MARK PASSION (MELBOURNE)
Sunday 30 March at 2:00pm Wesley Church Melbourne For the opening program of our 2025 season, the Australian Boys Choral Institute joins with Genesis Baroque to present the Australian premiere of Robert Koolstra's reconstruction of J.S. Bach's lost St. Mark Passion. Click for Early Bird tickets.
A CHILD’S BOOK OF BEASTS (MELBOURNE)
Sunday 29 June at 3:00pm Auburn Uniting Church, Hawthorn Join members of The Kelly Gang and the Training Choirs of the Australian Boys Choral Institute on home turf in this musical menagerie. Click for tickets.
INCANTATIONS (BENDIGO)
Saturday 2 August at 3:00pm Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo The Australian Boys Choir continues their 2025 season with this concert of inspiring choral works. This program will also feature the outstanding voices of The Vocal Consort. Click here to book tickets.
AUSTINATO MAGAZINE
For years Austinato Magazine has amplified the voices of the Australian Boys Choir and its supporters. It is dedicated to news, features, and insights into the Choir's performances, training program, and current affairs impacting the ABCI community. Passionate, engaging, and informative, Austinato is the place to find answers to the question: where might choral music take you?
DECEMBER 2024
FROM THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
The Australian Boys Choir takes the best aspects of music, artistic endeavour, talent, inspiration, and education to create a unique programme of musical training for boys and young men. Through 84 years of musical excellence, we have strived to achieve our mission.
FROM THE CHAIR
What a wonderful year for singing it has been so far. We’ve been treated to a host of uplifting and inspiring concerts, topped off by an international tour to Aotearoa/New Zealand. All the while, our singers have learned new skills, perfected current skills and grown as both singers and individuals.
AOTEAROA: LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD
We have been proud to resume touring internationally in this, our 85th year. Forty-five young people and five adults gathered at Melbourne Airport on September 21, for eight days in New Zealand. Despite the 6:00am sign-in time, everyone was all set... luggage packed and smiles on their faces.
LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS
2024 END-OF-YEAR APPEAL
Alex Ritter is an alumnus of the Australian Boys Choir. Only one of five Head Choristers appointed in the 85-year history of the ABCI, he's been proud to keep up his singing while also completing a PhD in Physics. You can click the title above to hear from Alex as he shares a bit about his own journey with the Choir and what makes it so special. In this, our 85th anniversary year, thank you for considering donating via the Choir's Give Now page this EOFY. All donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible and will assist in promoting and improving the Australian Boys Choir’s commitment to excellence. Click here to give us a boost today!
PERFORMING SQUAD MEMBER ALEXANDER
Alexander is a Senior Singer in the Australian Boys Choir Performing Squad. He is thrilled to be performing in the next program of the ABCI’s 85th anniversary concert season in 2024. ‘To Chase the Stars’ will be performed in September and October in Melbourne, Regional Victoria and on tour throughout the North Island of New Zealand. Click here to read more!
KELLY GANG SINGERS SAM & FRANK
Sam and Frank are members of the Kelly Gang, the Australian Boys Choral Institute outstanding ensemble of teenaged voices. They are thrilled to be performing in the next program of the ABCI’s 85th anniversary concert season in 2024. ‘To Chase the Stars’ will be performed in September & October in Melbourne, Regional Victoria and throughout New Zealand.
PERFORMING SQUAD SINGERS PASCAL & SAM
Pascal and Sam are ABCI Senior Singers. They are thrilled to be performing in the next program of the ABCI’s 85th anniversary concert season in 2024. ‘To Chase the Stars’ will be performed in September and October in Melbourne, Regional Victoria and on tour throughout New Zealand. Click to read more, book tickets and view recent footage.
PAST TOURS, PHOTOS AND STORIES
TOURS
2023 BRISBANE TOUR
It was very exciting to re-start our touring program in July 2023 with singers from The Kelly Gang and The Vocal Consort travelling to Brisbane to participate the Pemulwuy National Male Voice Festival. Being part of a group of 400 singers working together was a powerful experience for all involved. Click here to read and see more from Brisbane.
GALLERY
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ‘SONGS FOR THE OPEN ROAD’
We were excited to launch our 2023 concert season at Federation Square with the Yarra River as a backdrop. Headlined by The Vocal Consort, this performance also featured the Australian Boys Choir Performing Squad and members of the Kelly Gang and our Tyro, Junior Singer and Cambiata Training Groups in some terrific massed repertoire. Click here to watch video highlights.
TOURS
LET’S START AT THE VERY BEGINNING…
Geoff Kilby was the first chorister on the Australian Boys Choir ledger. Just like all of the choir’s founding members, he was a student at Toorak Central School, where the choir’s founder, VJ Kelly, was a school master. Their first rehearsal was held on Friday October 20, 1939.