The Boîte

Holly de Jong (BMus hons) studied trumpet and ethnomusicology at the University of Melbourne, completing a dissertation about the shakuhachi in Australia. Holly plays trumpet with a Balkan brass band, performs with a number of gamelan ensembles, plays shakuhachi and is learning the washint - the Ethiopian bamboo flute. Joining the Boite family in 2008, she is in her element listening to fantastic live music and eating cheese platters at the World Music Cafe every weekend.

Involved with the Boite since 1984, Roger has been full time Co-ordinator since 1993. He has performed, recorded and toured to Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria with various groups, currently Gorani. Born in Melbourne, he has lived in Malaysia and South Africa. He has initiated and nurtured many Boite projects through their development stages including the World Music Cafe, Boite Singers' Festival, the Melbourne Millennium Chorus and the Boite Schools Chorus and the Boite recording program.

Andrea has been designing and maintaining The Boite website since 1999. A classically trained pianist, she ran The Music Collective for 10 years and now teaches piano privately as well as conducting Squawkestra Orchestra and designing the odd website or two.

From January 2005 to June 2007 Michelle travelled through the Americas, (North, central and south America) where she spent over a year and half living and working in Ecuador. Michelle also has a B.A (Photography), loves listening to melodic tunes played on the piano accordion and has great plans to learn it. Michelle can also be contacted at the Boite office for all your ticket needs and general enquiries.

Therese Virtue began programming the Boite World Music Cafe (1 Mark St, Nth Fitzroy) in 1990. Prior to that she had worked as Boite Co-ordinator and managed various projects. Now her main focus is the programming and publicity of approximately 80 concerts each year at the World Music Cafe, although she takes a lively interest in other projects, particularly the Millennium Chorus. Therese also runs a number of community choirs, and loves singing.

Katrina started working at the Boite in 2004 as Cafe Manager at the Boite World Music Cafe. In late 2005 she began working on the Boite special projects and has been involved in the Boite Singers Festival at Daylesford, Global Sounds at the Melbourne Museum, Melbourne Millennium Chorus and The Boite Schools Chorus.

B.Com. CPA Has extensive experience in book retailing and fundraising.

An experienced teacher, artist, organiser and enthusiastic participant, Alannah brings considerable wisdom to the board as well as valuable networks of supporters.

Angela is the Coordinator of the (Bilingual) Health Education Program for Working Womens Health - a Statewide (Victoria) health information service for women from non-English speaking backgrounds. Angela has extensive experience on Boards of Management for Australian Federation for Homelessness Organisations and many other oranisations.

Musician and singer Anthea brings skills and knowledge as an event organiser and publicist. Currently studying the RMIT Entrepreneur Program, she is a graduate of the MAPD course.

An arts manager, percussionist, composer and filmmaker. He first came to the Bo?te as a performer, notably as half of marimba and vibraphone duo, Invention in Time, which in 2004 toured Europe. He co-ordinated the Bo?te Winter Festival from 1999 to 2001 and has been involved in many Boite programmes since he joined the committee in 1998. He works as an Arts Project Officer at the City of Melbourne, and has previous arts management experience in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

A former lecturer in literature at La Trobe Uni, Chris maintains an active interest in traditional and world music and has engaged with, and supported Boite projects over many years.

David Marama Born in Malawi, brought up in Tanzania, now a very highly respected African musician in Australia, David works with overseas students at RMIT.

Mardi is a social worker and currently is the Manager of the Northern Regional Team at the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, a non-government organisation providing assistance to refugees who settle in Melbourne. Previous areas of work include child and family welfare, foster care and medical social work. Mardi is also a member of a community choir, Thursday's Children, and has participated in the Melbourne Millennium Chorus. Born and growing up in Fiji and then living in USA, UK, Japan and Australia, Mardi has experienced a wide diversity of music and seen the capacity of music to build bridges between people and to contribute to individual and community well-being.

Therese Virtue is a talented performer and teacher of voice, having sung with some of Melbourne's most adventurous folk ensembles including the award winning Petrunka. She has been involved with the Boite since 1984, and as Boite World Music Cafe Co-ordinator for the past 18 years has organised and presented over 1400 intimate concerts featuring artists from 35 communities. For 18 years she has been a presenter of the Boite World Music radio programs on 3PBS and 3CR. A warm and approachable person with a formidable knowledge of the Australian music scene, she is highly respected by artists from many communities.

Melbourne Millennium Chorus