ENSEMBLES 2025

Xavier College Choir

Xavier College was founded in 1878 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). A Jesuit education encourages the individual to develop his or her talents and fosters reflection so that the person’s heart, mind, body and spirit may become fully engaged to serve in the wider world. Xavier College has provided over 140 years of quality music making and offers an exciting and diverse music curriculum across its campuses. Students regularly achieve high results at competitions, eisteddfods and in examinations, with many achieving Diploma levels in performance. Classroom music from Kindergarten to Year 12 includes wide-ranging experiences from singing, to music technology and performance. From workshops and master classes to concerts and excursions, the students are exposed to high quality music education and performance at all levels. The Xavier Music Ensemble Program is at the core of life at the College with over 50 instrumental and choral ensembles performing at over 100 Masses, concerts and official school functions each year. Recognising that a musician must care for their instrument, our ensemble directors invest a great deal of time, energy, and focus on the care and development of their instrument – the students themselves. At every rehearsal, each boy is encouraged to "Be the Best They Can Be." Students are taught the importance of hard work, self-discipline, and focus, all in an environment that is positive, encouraging, and fun. In this way, students are allowed to be their true selves and find expression of the greatness that lies within them. The touring Xavier College Choir is made up of Year 8 – 12 boys who attend our Senior School. They rehearse one morning a week and regularly perform at Liturgical events and concerts. The choir has a repertoire of over 30 traditional and modern Hymns and various mass settings including those composed by Sir James MacMillan and renowned Australian Jesuit composer Christopher Willcock SJ. Senior Choral ensembles at Xavier College have recently performed: Handel’s Messiah, Stanford’s Songs of the Sea, Mozart’s Sparrow Mass, Faure’s Requiem, Shostakovich’s Babi Yar Symphony and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Nicholas Cowall

Conductor

Nicholas Cowall is the Head of Choral music at Xavier College and oversees 8 choral ensembles, liturgical music and a vibrant massed singing program across its campuses. He is one of the leading interpreters and promoters of Russian Choral and Vocal Music in Australia and has conducted opera, orchestral and choral ensembles both in Australia and overseas. Nicholas has worked as a Director of Music in both Catholic and Independent school settings in Melbourne and has completed tertiary music study at Monash University, Melbourne University, the Moscow Conservatoire and the Victorian College of the Arts. Nicholas has delivered courses in conducting in Australia and the United States, and has assisted in preparing choirs for Vladimir Ashkenazy, Oleg Caetani, Simon Halsey, Valery Gergiev, Marcus Stenz and Carlo Ricci. In addition to conducting, Nicholas Cowall regularly sings with professional choral ensembles and opera companies including The Consort of Melbourne, Victorian Opera and Opera Australia. He is also active as a lecturer, adjudicator, and conductor for choral and vocal competitions and workshops.

Celebration Program

Additional Concerts Program