Polly Christie Bio
Bachelor of Music (Hons) Diploma of Music performance (Jazz Popular)

For over twelve years Polly Christie has been the musical director of fourteen choirs in metropolitan Melbourne and led workshops at festivals around Australia. She is an experienced singer, solo performer and recording artist (Lothlorian, Magenta and Resonance Choir) and held Artistic Director positions at festivals and special events. She held the Artistic Director role for The City of Darebin Carols by Candlelight event for five years where she both conducted 100 singers and the forty- piece brass band, performed and co coordinated the entire event.

Polly has co-written and co-directed three successful community arts/ choir shows as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival: EN:CHOIR (2004), Sonic Bath (2005) and Travelling Light (2006). She has taught vocals at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE for five years.

Workshops and Performances at festivals and events in Australia include:

• Summer Song Music Camp, N.S.W: workshop leader (2004, 2005)
• Centenary of Federation massed choir, Vic: Conductor (2001)
• Macbeth, Vic: Musical Director (2007)
• Big West Festival, Vic: Musical Director, massed children’s choir (2004)
• Grafton Arts festival, NSW: workshop leader (2003, 2007)

She has a Bachelor of Music with honours and completed a thesis titled “The roles and contributions female choral conductors play in contemporary Victoria”. She is currently Musical Director of the Pollyphonics Choir in Woodend and she also performs with her partner Andy Rigby and the Kwela Swingsters, (a 7 piece Swing band). She has a beautiful two year old daughter and lives in Central Victoria.

Polly utilises repertoire she learnt in Africa and India and has a flexible approach to composition and contemporary arranging. She creates a warm environment where singers of any age and experience can develop their skills. Using conducting skills taught by Prof Rodney Eichenburger (USA), as well as techniques such as voice matching, she can turn any workshop group into a band of angels!

In addition to conducting Pollyphonics in Woodend, Polly also teaches singing lessons privately from her home in Malmsbury.

“Hand Poetry in motion”
Fay White describing Polly Christie’s conducting