Australia’s Finest Young Voices Bring ‘Into the West’ Tour to Mount Gambier

AUSTRALIA’S finest young voices are heading west as the National Boys Choir of Australia (NBCA) embarks on its Into the West tour, performing across South-West Victoria and Mount Gambier this September.

Directed by NBCA Artistic Director Andrew Bainbridge and accompanied by pianist Jane Matheson, the concert series will showcase a vibrant mix of classical, folk, and contemporary works.

A special feature in several programs is the music-theatre piece Batavia by acclaimed Australian composer Stephen Leek. Commissioned by Anne Williams and the Eltham East Primary School Choir, who also wrote the libretto, Batavia tells the dramatic and little-known story of the wreck of the Dutch East Indies Company flagship in 1629, off the coast of Geraldton, WA. Semi-staged and costumed, the work combines gripping storytelling with striking choral writing.

“This tour is a wonderful opportunity for our choristers to share their talents with communities across South-West Victoria and Mount Gambier,” said Bainbridge. “Alongside songs of the sea and other audience favourites, our program features Batavia, a powerful, extended work that tells this tragic and compelling story in music and drama.”

With a strong maritime theme running through the performances, the program will feel especially resonant as the Choir travels through the Shipwreck Coast. “Although the Batavia tragedy took place on the other side of the country, its story echoes the perilous history of Australia’s southern shores,” Bainbridge said.

The tour is not only about performance but also learning. Between concerts, the choristers will explore the volcanic landscapes of Camperdown, Tower Hill, and Mount Gambier, visit the Grampians–Gariwerd to witness recovery after last summer’s bushfires, and discover the region’s fascinating, and sometimes treacherous, maritime past.

For Mount Gambier audiences, the tour offers a rare chance to hear one of Australia’s most renowned choirs live in their own community. The NBCA is recognised internationally for its artistry, and the boys’ voices have been heard on stages across Australia and the world. Many will also remember their performances in the iconic Qantas I Still Call Australia Home advertisements, as well as regular appearances at Carols by Candlelight and with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia, and Victorian Opera.

Mount Gambier Performance: Wednesday 24 September – 4:00 pm | Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre | Tickets available online: https://www.countryarts.org.au/events/into-the-west-tour/

For more information, visit www.nationalboyschoir.com.au

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