On 31 March I step down as General Manager of the Song Company, and with the greatest pleasure welcome Karen Baker as my successor. Karen joined us from the Australia Council last October, and in that time we have become close colleagues and good friends. I won’t be disappearing altogether but will be around on a part time basis over the next few months to make sure there is a smooth transition.
It is two and a half years since Roland called me and asked me if I would step in for a few weeks and hold the fort while finding a new general manager. Those few weeks quickly became many months, and towards the end of my long arts management career, it has been such an honour and pleasure for me to work with Roland, our brilliant singers: Ruth, Anna, Lauren, Richard, Mark and Clive and our hard working management team: Karen, Tony, Marion and Andrew. I have never worked with such a mutually supportive and dedicated group of people. Fulfilling such a busy and demanding program on such slender resources would it be impossible were it not for the affection, respect, and good humour all hold for each other.
I also want to thank our part time accountants, Gerry and Ron, our wonderful chief volunteer, Charles and the many interns, mostly from Germany and France who have worked so hard while enjoying their stays in Australia. And finally, my thanks to our Chairman, Shane Simpson, and our hard working Board members for the support they have given all of us.
The last performance I attended as General Manager took place in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago in their wonderful Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Recital Hall, the first of many concerts the Song Company will perform there. For me it was very satisfying; a great performance of Kalkadunga Man in a beautiful hall with a marvellous acoustic, and a real symbol of how far the Song Company has come under Roland’s direction.
We are all greatly privileged to have Roland committing the greater part of his career to the Song Company. Long may he and the company stay together – and from where I sit, I can assure you it is only going to get better!
I look forward to sitting beside you all and savouring the delights of future Song Company concerts.
Best wishes
Antony Jeffrey
