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About the Conductor

The Choir's musical director, Dieter Bajzek, was born in Austria and came to Australia in 1962. He left his original profession of photo-lithography in 1975 in order to study music. After initial percussion studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium, he studied music at La Trobe University, where he obtained his Masters Degree (music/composition) in 1986. He is the author of an internationally acclaimed reference book on percussion, taught as senior music tutor and choral conductor at La Trobe University, and has wide experiences as composer and arranger, choral conductor, and as musician and singer. He has managed a major Melbourne recording studio and record label for several years, has been founding administrator of the Folk Alliance Australia, past chairperson of the Melbourne world music organisation The Boite, Hon.Vice-Consul for Austria in Melbourne (1996-2003). In 2002 he was elected a council member of the Music Council of Australia, and currently freelances as musician, CD producer, music consultant, performer and graphic designer.

In October 1995 the Austrian Government awarded him the very prestigious “Cross of Honour for Arts and Science”, in July 1998 he received the “Golden Medal of Honour” (Goldenes Ehrenzeichen des Landes Steiermark) from the Austrian state of Steiermark (Styria), and in December 2004 he received the Austrian Government's most esteemed award, the rare "Golden Cross of the Republic of Austria" (Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich), in recognition for his extensive and diverse musical work in Australia over the past 30 years..

Dieter is married to Julia, herself not only a member of the Choir since the very beginning, but is also the other half of the "Austrian Yodel Duo" with her husband, and always a strong supporter and activist for the Choir, wherever and whenever one is needed.

Dieter may be contacted by telephone: 03 9459 8128,
or email: bajzek@mail-direct.com.au.