Paul Coppens, Noosa Chorale’s guest conductor for its All That Jazz concert at the J next week to open the Noosa Jazz Festival attributes his life in music to a remarkable moment that he has never forgotten.
He was six years old, and he heard music coming from a house that he passed on the way home that changed him forever! He can’t remember what it was – a classical piece – but it set him on a lifelong quest to explore, enjoy, and master this art.
Born in Brabant, Netherlands, he emigrated with his family to Australia in 1955. From the age of 16 Paul worked in the bank, but eventually took what he terms the ‘courageous’ or ‘foolish’ step to pursue a career in music, leaving in 1970 for Europe and graduating in conducting in 1972 at the Graz Music University, Austria.
He came back to Australia in 1973 and two years later he founded the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, which was the nucleus of the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra. He conducted this Orchestra in more than 350 concerts in almost 150 cities throughout Australia (mainly in cooperation with Rotary Clubs).
He has conducted many choirs and orchestras and has worked in productions of ballet, opera, operetta and musical comedy. A highlight was the arena production of Verdi’s opera Aida (1996-97) in Singapore, Perth, Auckland and Brisbane.
A lifelong jazz fan, he has always wanted to direct a jazz concert and what we discover as we move through such classics like “The Rhythm of Life” and ‘Cosy Corner Café’, punctuated by doo be doos and doo-aps, is that Paul is extremely groovy!
And it is infectious. He moves and dances and laughs through the work and wants us to do the same – all the while insisting on the tightest of disciplined rhythm, enunciation, emphasis and pace. But such fun!
Angie Oakley is a member of Noosa Chorale and sings with the altos.
Noosa Chorale’s All That Jazz and Jazz Festival at the J Thursday, August 22, at 7pm and Saturday, August 24, at 4pm. Tickets: Email info@noosajazzclub.com or phone: 0478 256 245.
