My aim is to share the voices behind 'Southern Cross Voices' will help us to show     the wider community what they may gain by supporting and/or joining the choir. 

    Here's what Robert had to say: 







What got you interested in choral music and what is your choral experience? 

I feel like I've been involved in singing choral music forever! I was about 7 years old when I sang in my first choir. My parents and older brother and sister were in the Anglican Church choir that was down the end the end of the road from where we lived in Caulfield South, in Melbourne. It was all very formal - choir robes, parading into church, sitting in choir stalls and of course lots of amazing choral music, predominantly hymns and choir anthems such as 'The Lord is my Shepherd'.
Fast forward about 30 years and I found myself conducting 3 choirs a week, an all-ladies choir called The Cantartas, an all-men's choir called Broken Voices and a mixed choir called Joyful Strains. Rehearsals were weekly and we got heaps of gigs for Christmas, Nursing Homes, Council Events and even weddings and funerals! These choirs evolved into Mosaic Community Choir and Vocally Wild that are still going strong today!
Moving to Brisbane in 2017, I conducted the Moorooka Community Choir, the Brisbane Pride Choir and of course now, the amazing Southern Cross Voices. So, you could say, I've got lots of experience. Then of course there's the teaching of choral music at schools, adjudicating Choral competitions, running Choral sections at Eisteddfods...


How does choral music have a place in today's world?

I feel choral singing is so undervalued. The skills you gain when you join a choir - not just singing, but the community spirit you inherit and for many. the lifelong friends you make as being part of a choir. I have been the catalyst for a wedding (and subsequent divorce!), meeting and working with such great people as Kate Ceberano, David Hobson, Beau Woodbridge because of choirs. You open the door to performance opportunities and get involved in making people happy. Ultimately, everyone loves to sing. Singing makes you feel good. You become the guide and signpost, the philosopher and social worker, the teacher and the advisor - all roles in taking a choir. Over the years, I have seen people grow in so much confidence and flourish as a result of being in a choir. They start to improve their well-being and learn important social skills. All from joining a choir!


Where can you see Southern Cross Voices progress to in the future?  

SCV has such a big future. The groundwork and hard yards have already been established. The current sound the choir is making is phenomenal. I feel so privileged taking the choir every Wednesday night and achieving the heights they do and working towards their performances. But with every choir, changes always have to take place. We need to recruit and encourage all those closet singers to join. We need to build our numbers to enhance our sound and allow others the joy and experience in being in our ranks. Community choirs can be damned hard work but boy are they rewarding.
Never underestimate what community choirs can do!

Thank you so much for your service to the choir Robert, and your time taken to answer my questions. We are lucky to have you on board!