History of the Australian Youth Choir

Established in 1975 the Australian Youth Choir has developed a rich tradition in choral music education and performance.

Annual international concert tours have enabled the choir to develop cultural relationships with many other choral groups and ensembles including the Vienna Boys Choir, the Keystone State Boychoir Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Boys Choir, the New York Youth Orchestra and the Newark Boys Chorus. Performances before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll, His Royal Highness, the Prince Edward, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, and His Holiness Pope John Paul ll at the Vatican, feature amongst the highlights in the Choirs touring history.

Recitals have been given in the world's finest cathedrals and Concert Halls; the Duomo Florence, St. Mark's Venice, Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame Paris, St Peter's Bascillica Rome, Royal Albert Hall, St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey London, Carnegie Hall and St Patrick's Cathedral New York, and in the Rathaus, Augarten Palace and Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. In 1990, the choir was the first Australian children's choir to perform at the distinguished Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. In 2005, Aled Jones joined the Choir at Royal Albert Hall, London, in a Gala concert to celebrate its 30 year Anniversary.

For many years the blue and gold robes of the Australian Youth Choir have featured at cultural events that shape our nation. The Centenary of Federation re-enactment at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Carols by Candlelight, before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 at the Opening of The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Queensland (CHOGM); at the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Sydney before His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and the opening of the Ghan Railway South Australia. The choir continues to be invited to perform at major sporting events including the Australian Football League Grand Final, the Australian Tennis Open at Melbourne Park, the Davis Cup Challenge rounds in Washington D.C. and Sydney, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and the National Basketball League finals. The choir has recorded for both radio and television and appeared with John Farnham on The Age of Reason video. In 2008 the Choir will include Barcelona and Madrid in its Concert tour for the first time.