Spectacular finale for Queensland choir master
The Queensland Choir’s Baroque Spectacular at the end of May is also the grand finale for long-serving chorus master Kevin Power, who lays down his baton after more than half a century of making beautiful music.
The Queensland Choir’s upcoming Baroque Spectacular will be yet another beautiful concert, but tinged with sadness, as it will mark the last opportunity for music lovers to hear the choir perform under the baton of longstanding musical director, concert pianist and conductor Kevin Power.
The concert marks the end of an era and is a grande finale for Power’s 55-year association with The Queensland Choir, first as accompanist and since 1981 as chorus master, musical director, conductor and commissioner of works, including pioneering Australian work, Malcolm Williamson’s The Dawn is at Hand, featuring the poetry of acclaimed indigenous writer Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker).
The Baroque Spectacular, featuring talented young soloists Annika Hinrichs and Morgan Rosati with the Sinfonia of St Andrew’s, is part of the 4MBS Festival of Classics and will be held at the Old Museum at Bowen Hills on May 31.
The Queensland Choir will present Baroque masterpieces including Handel’s Zadok the Priest and The King Shall Rejoice; Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring and Vivaldi’s Gloria in D Major. The concert will also include Bach’s Bradenburg Concerto No. 3 and Handel’s Sinfonia – The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.
Kevin Power
Power has influenced generations of professional musicians, students and music lovers throughout Queensland, Australia and internationally by sharing his musical talents and expertise for the community’s benefit.
His accomplishments are many – concert pianist, founding member of the chamber music group Southern Cross Soloists, Queensland Choir musical director, Queensland Conservatorium staff member, music teacher, conductor, accompanist, eisteddfod adjudicator and AMEB examiner.
He has also provided the opportunity for many aspiring young soloists to sing with The Queensland Choir. These include stars of today such as Mirusia, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lisa Gasteen, Iain Henderson and rising young baritone Samuel Dale Johnson. Didgeridoo player William Barton also performed with the choir when he first came to Brisbane at age 17.
After graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium and the University of Queensland in 1973, Power spent five years in London, performing in the UK and Europe and teaching while studying piano with the Swiss pianist Albert Ferber and chamber music with Walter Gerhardt.
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He has performed as a soloist numerous times with Queensland Symphony and Philharmonic orchestras and been a soloist and accompanist for many ABC broadcasts.
Brisbane Sings Messiah, introduced by Power in 2008 and featuring The Queensland Choir with guest choristers, professional soloists and orchestra performing in Brisbane City Hall, has become a popular and much-loved biennial, pre-Christmas event.
The Baroque Spectacular will be his last performance before retiring as musical director of The Queensland Choir.
The Queensland Choir conducted by Kevin Power presents The Baroque Spectacular at the Old Museum Building, Bowen Hills, May 31, 7.30pm.