Music Experience Curriculum Vitae

Chris Drury

Formative years:  Studied piano from age 11 and passed to grade 5 in the UK.

An Operatic Venture
Post  arrival in Australia (Dec 1986), sang with Canberra City Opera chorus parts as Tenor in performances such as Gilbert & Sulivan’s “Trial By Jury”, “Pirates Of Penzance”.  Also in stage productions for “Madam Butterfly”, “Orpheus In The Underworld”, Mozart’s   “Marriage of Figaro”.  Received tenor voice training at this time from the late Max Orwin.

The Barbershop Scene
Sang tenor with Canberra Chordsmen and competed in many quartets for the National Titles at conventions in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Also sang as tenor in the Chorus at this time directed by Glenda Millgate (now Lloyd).

Acted as BHCC Treasurer for the first two years of membership.
Became Assistant MD to Danny Millgate and attended many MD training workshops held in the Eastern Region and in New Zealand (Greg Lyons)

Accepted the MD role for the Canberra Chordsmen when Danny resigned.  I directed at many venues in the Canberra region including The National Gallery, National Museum, special events, Belconnen Markets and Floriade.

Produced all the training MIDI files that the Chorus required for new songs and introduced a register for everyone to attain qualification for notes and words.
Participated in the management of a very successful  Greenhills Eastern region Workshop weekend  in 2003, after the Canberra bush fires.

Received the” Most  Improved”  award at the Perth Convention in 2003.
Became a training member of the Guild Of Judges in the “Presentation Category” and attended the many training sessions here and  NZ in order to become qualified. Unfortunately, my resignation from the BHCC at the same time precluded any further advancement in this Judging role.

And all That Jazz
Joined Rhythm Syndicate (2004) as a Bass singer and performed at many venues around Canberra  culminating every year at the Merimbula Jazz Festival.  Featured with Ian Mclean’s  Pops Concert as the Pop’s Chorus every year in the orchestra.  Competed  in the ABC Choir of the Year award where we claimed 3rd place and were broadcast live to air from the Llewellyn Hall.

Show Time
Sang Bass in the chorus in the show “Chess” recently (2009) at the Q Theatre, Queanbeyan under direction Duncan Ley and Lucy Bermingham (music). This ran for a very successful 3 weeks.

Back To The Fold
July 2010 - Took up the mantle again Music Director of the Canberra Chordsmen