Conductor brings music to life

Published 5:00am 16 October 2024

Words by Kylie Knight

Eli Ball sees music as a way to express himself and connect with people of all ages, so when he was asked to be the conductor of Redcliffe City Choir he jumped at the chance.

The 18-year-old has been in the role for about six months, after initially volunteering to fill in for a short period of time and then agreeing to stay on permanently.

The choir has about 20 members, including Eli’s mother, and he says the age difference has not been difficult to manage.

“They all love music and they all want to be there. They’re so passionate about it, so you don’t have to get stern with people who want to be there. It’s not like sometimes when you’re with a school choir ... they (Redcliffe City Choir) want to be there,” Eli explains.

“You have to put yourself in that mind space, understand how they work ... they might do things differently. It’s just making it work how they like to run rehearsals and how they like to do things.”

Eli says he has learnt much from working with the choir.

“I think I’ve learnt a lot more about technique, about choral conducting because I’ve come from doing more music and band stuff. With choral conducting, there are nuances and little extra things you have to be cautious of to get different sounds,” he says.

So, what does he love about conducting Redcliffe City Choir?

“It’s how us as a community should express the music that’s on the page because, on the page, it’s almost just notes without a life to it. I like to be with them and move the notes off the page and just make music happen,” Eli explains.

“Music without a community aspect, doesn’t really have a point. The whole reason I do it is the community and to be with the community, and see the live reaction of an audience. That’s why I like working with youth and younger children to hopefully inspire them to follow their dreams.

“There is a misconception with conducting that you’re only there to keep everyone in time. Musicians and skilled singers can keep themselves in time. It’s more about feeling the music and expressing to the choir or an orchestra how one should interpret the music.”

Eli is studying a Bachelor of Composition at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music online and is guiding the next generation of musicians as a teacher locally.

“Music is a way of expressing yourself and I think, to me, it’s almost like communication and how it can connect so many different people and places. Music has always been kind of like what holds society together even if we don’t realise it,” he says.

“There are so many songs that are linked to events – we sing the national anthem, we sing happy birthday.”