The Australian Children’s Choir (ACC) is embarking on a significant tour of Italy at the end of June. This tour will see 29 teenagers from their top two choirs perform in various historic locations, including singing at a Mass in the Vatican on 30 June.
Melbourne Catholic 23 June 2026
‘It’s just such a thrill for them to be singing there. That moment when they’re actually singing, and what they’ll feel inside, it’s just life changing, I think,’ says Australian Children’s Choir general manager Carmel Scott.
The opportunity to sing at the Vatican arose somewhat unexpectedly when their American agent mentioned the possibility. They were to be in Italy anyway for the Festival Internazionale Corale Verona Garda (the Verona Garda Summer International Festival) in early July.
A choir’s bread and butter is a lot of sacred music, but this is the first time … that the ACC has performed at the Vatican.
Carmel thought, ‘Oh yes please!’ and reached out to a family friend, Archbishop of Canberra Christopher Prowse, who provided a reference to the Vatican. ‘We haven’t really had direct contact with the Vatican, but they approved our audition, and so I think our agent in America was flabbergasted that we were accepted,’ she says.
‘You know, now that it’s getting close, it’s very humbling. I’m thrilled for Daniel (artistic director Daniel Brinsmead) and the kids, because they all worked really, really hard.’
‘We have a lot of experience singing sacred repertoire, because a choir’s bread and butter is a lot of sacred music, but this is the first time … that the ACC has performed at the Vatican,’ says Daniel.
We pride ourselves on programming diverse repertoire in all sorts of languages.
The tour itinerary includes other performances in Rome. Their first concert will be at the Basilica di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, where St Catherine of Sienna lies. They will also perform at Basilica di Santa Trinita in Florence, before participating in the three-day international choral festival in Verona, alongside choirs from Belgium, Germany, Canada and Italy.
Australian Children’s Choir Learns to Sing in Italian
Despite ACC’s extensive experience with sacred music, the primary challenge for the young choristers has been learning to sing in Italian. Daniel consulted with experts in Catholic liturgical music Fiona Dyball and St Patrick’s Cathedral music director Dr Philip Mathias, as well as Nancy Calo, an Italian language coach for opera singers, to select appropriate hymns.
‘[The challenge] is more just for the young people who have never sung in Italian before,’ the ACC artistic director says. ‘That’s been probably the biggest challenge, but very enjoyable, and you can hear today that everyone has really gotten their heads around singing in Italian, which is really special to do that for them over there.
‘I mean, it’s quite common to sing in another language, particularly at the ACC. We pride ourselves on programming diverse repertoire in all sorts of languages, and this is just a special occasion where Italian repertoire is obviously the focus.’
Melbourne Catholic was invited to watch some of a rehearsal at the Uniting church in Mitcham, and the talent of the choir was evident. Their singing was beautiful, and when they changed focus from the songs they will sing at the Vatican to some of the lighter tunes to be performed at other venues, the children took on Daniel’s encouragement to ‘have fun with it’ with enthusiasm.
Performing in a venue that’s so rich in history … that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
One standout was a traditional Liberian children’s clapping song called ‘Kokoleoko’, the sound of a rooster crowing, which they clearly enjoyed performing. Another was ‘Viva la Pappa col Pomodoro’, or ‘Hooray for Tomato Soup’, a 1960s Italian children’s song.
About the Choristers From Australian Children’s Choir
That is one of 14-year-old chorister Theo’s favourites, but he is also looking forward to singing ‘Veni Jesu’ at the Vatican. ‘My mum’s looking forward to me singing there as well. She thinks it’s cool,’ he says. ‘She speaks Italian [and] helps me with the pronunciation.’
Alecia, also 14, really likes the experience of touring. ‘I think that this tour, especially, is going to be really culturally enriching,’ she says. ‘Performing in a venue that’s so rich in history, that’s so well known. I think that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m really excited about that.’
Nineteen-year-old Ethan, whose rich bass sounded wonderful in the hymns at rehearsal, is also excited about the experience of touring and performing in venues that will be very different from those in Australia. ‘I’m probably most looking forward to the Vatican, just looking around the city. I have been to Italy before, but I don’t really remember most of it,’ the apprentice carpenter says.
The teenagers have been with the Australian Children’s Choir for years—a decade for Ethan. ACC is a non-denominational organisation whose members come from all backgrounds. Carmel says some are from families who speak languages other than English at home, so singing really helps get a handle on Australia’s official language, as well as the others they sing in.
Singing, the act of singing itself, is just so good for your wellbeing.
They tour every two years, Carmel says, often attending competitions, with a lot of success. ‘Two years ago, we did the World Choir Games in sacred repertoire, so we got a gold medal for that in New Zealand,’ she says.
The tours are not just about musical performance but also about personal development. The children are kept very busy, Carmel says, constantly rehearsing, performing and travelling to the next venue. ‘It’s really great for their personal development. They come back much more independent, and, you know, they’re very good kids.
‘We’re really passionate about music education for kids, but also because singing is so healthy for young people, especially teenagers, because it’s a really tough world for teenagers, and it makes them happy, it makes them confident.’
Everybody is here for the kids. We’re very lucky.
Daniel agrees. ‘Just releasing the endorphins when you’re singing and breathing together and feeling like you’re part of a collective and you’re working towards a common goal, and that is just so healthy,’ he says. ‘And to feel like they have a place where they belong, and where they can share in shared passions and interests. And singing, the act of singing itself, is just so good for your wellbeing.’
This is a big year for the Australian Children’s Choir, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. The 180 or so choristers and an alumni choir of 100 will be performing at the Melbourne Recital Centre on 5 September as part of the festivities. Among the alumni singing that night will be one of the children in the inaugural 1976 choir, Helen Hill, who Daniel says will be singing a solo.
That alumni keep coming back is an indication of the ACC’s welcoming culture. ‘We’re really fortunate with that,’ says Carmel. ‘Daniel’s the artistic director, and we’ve got just beautiful staff, beautiful people that play the piano. Everybody is here for the kids. We’re very lucky.’
Information about joining the Australian Children’s Choir can be found here.
This article and photos sourced from Melbourne Catholic and adapted by EWTN Australia.
