The Sound of Music Theatre: Robert Bertram’s Vision for a Nationwide Choir
Australia’s musical landscape has witnessed a fresh wave of excitement, brought on by the remarkable growth of the Australian Music Theatre Choir, a creation of the multi-talented Robert Bertram. A well-acclaimed figure in the music theatre industry, Bertram’s vision for this choir is not only ambitious but heartwarming.
For years, Robert had a lingering thought. “Why wasn’t there a choir solely dedicated to singing songs from musicals in Australia?” Rather than continuing to ponder, he took the initiative, hoping for a modest start. To his astonishment, the choir quickly ballooned from a dream of 10 or 20 members to a whopping 70 in the first term. “People love a show tune,” Robert quips, recalling how a single social media post turned the choir into a sensation.
Robert, with your impressive background in music theatre, spanning from performances in renowned productions to training the next generation, what inspired you to focus on creating a choir dedicated to singing songs from musicals?
Earlier this year I decided to start one in the hope that it would be an enjoyable addition to my private teaching studio. I had imagined that we would start small, with 10 or 20 members, but the first term of the Australian Music Theatre Choir saw 70 singers walk through the door. It all started with a social media post where I mentioned that I was creating a music theatre singing group, and since then I have been inundated with interest from all over the country, from all walks of life. People love a show tune!
The choir’s expansion has not been without challenges, especially with its remarkable growth across multiple cities. “Daily, people from all over Australia express their desire for a choir in their location,” shares Robert. The upcoming expansions into Melbourne, Brisbane, and Wollongong are the realisation of this demand, with Adelaide, Perth, and Canberra in the sights for 2024. Facing the challenges of business viability, administration, and marketing was not what his years of music lessons had prepared him for. But what kept him going? The sheer joy of the choir members. “The happiness in the room is palpable,” he remarks.
The Australian Music Theatre Choir experienced incredible growth in a short span, starting from Sydney and expanding to other cities. How did you manage this expansion and what were the most rewarding challenges you faced along the way?
On a daily basis people from all over Australia get in touch and (often) ask me to start the choir in their location. Once the Sydney group was established, I began looking into where the choir could start up next. From early October, I am pretty excited to say, we are expanding into three new locations; Melbourne, Brisbane and Wollongong. Adelaide, Perth and Canberra are on the cards for early 2024. And yes, there have certainly have been challenges along the way. Something like this needs to be viable as a business in addition to just being a fun chance to sing. Decades of music lessons haven’t really prepared me for that! So I’m learning as I go in regards to admin and marketing. What drives me to be better at those things is how much joy people are getting from being involved in the choir. The happiness in the room is palpable. So I feel a sense of responsibility now to try and share this with as many people as possible.
One might wonder, with such an expansive age and skill range, how does the choir maintain cohesion and a sense of belonging? The answer lies in the purpose. Robert explains, “The aim of the choir is to share the joy of music theatre.” It’s not about perfect harmonies or hitting every high note but about sharing the love of singing and musicals.
With choir members ranging from 18 to 79 years of age, from professionals to beginners, how do you cater to such a diverse range of vocal abilities and ensure everyone feels a sense of belonging and achievement?
The aim of the choir is to share the joy of music theatre. If singers turn up with that in mind then everything is possible. Professional level vocalists use the choir as an inexpensive weekly vocal workout. Less experienced singers or those who are not yet confident voice users can come along and ease their way in. People can sing quietly or loudly, swap to a different vocal part if they want a different challenge, or just sing the melody. I’m happy for anything as long as we are all on the same train: sharing our love of singing and musicals!
Looking ahead, Robert, with a hint of jest, mentions his aspiration of the choir replacing the Australian children’s choir in Qantas commercials. Beyond that, there’s a genuine hope of large fundraising performances. But in the end, for Robert, if the choir serves just to spread joy through singing, it stands as a towering achievement.
Given your rich history in the music theatre industry, both on stage and behind the scenes, where do you envision the Australian Music Theatre Choir in the next 5 years? Are there any specific milestones or projects you’re hoping to achieve?
I often joke about us replacing the Australian children’s choir on the Qantas commercials. I won’t rest until that happens! Until then, I am hopeful of us being able to do some big fundraising performances. At the end of each term we currently have a performance that raises money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Sydney will host a much bigger version of that in December this year. So hopefully we can build from that as time goes on. To be honest, (and I’m hoping to not sound overly sentimental here) if the only purpose of the choir is to bring joy into peoples lives through singing then that is a VERY satisfying achievement.
Drawing from his eclectic background, which includes being an accomplished Irish dancer, Robert sees the choir as a return to the love of the art. “All performers started because they loved it,” he reflects. As life progresses, various stresses or diverging paths might dim that initial love. However, Robert’s mission with the Australian Music Theatre Choir is to rekindle that joy. A sentiment he summarises beautifully, “Making sure we all find time to do something that brings us joy or lifts our spirits cannot be undervalued. If singing and musicals do that for you, then the Australian Music Theatre Choir has its doors wide open.”
You’ve accomplished so much in various areas, from your A.MUS.A in Piano to placing 2nd in the National Championships for Irish dancing. How have these diverse talents and experiences influenced your approach as the Choir Director for the Australian Music Theatre Choir?
Gosh, I miss my Irish Dancing days. Great people. I loved it so much. What I think about often these days is that all performers, at every level, began performing because they loved it. When it becomes your work various stresses are added. Or, if your life takes you in another direction you may forget how much you actually enjoyed singing or dancing or acting. In regards to the choir I feel like it is part of my job to foster the love of the art form. Making sure we all find time to do something that brings us joy or lifts our spirits cannot be undervalued. If singing and musicals do that for you then the Australian Music Theatre Choir has its doors wide open. Come and sing with us!
With such passionate leadership and vision, there’s little doubt that the Australian Music Theatre Choir is bound for continued success, uniting Australians in the joy of music theatre. As Robert aptly concludes, “Come and sing with us!”
For those who’ve been captivated by Robert Bertram’s vision and are eager to become part of this melodic movement, the path is clear and inviting. Whether you’re an enthusiastic beginner or an experienced vocalist, the Australian Music Theatre Choir is ready to welcome you with open arms. To join this harmonious family and experience the unifying power of show tunes, all the details are available at www.australianmusictheatrechoir.com.au.
Embrace the joy, the community, and the melodies that have already touched so many.
