Nick Ellis
Nick’s singing career began in musical theatre as a member of the concert troupe Applecarte based in Kent, England. Initially in the chorus for productions such as Iolanthe, he moved on to principal roles such as Motel in Fiddler On The Roof and, after moving to Australia, one of the title roles in Savoyards’ Cox and Box.
He took formal voice training with mezzo soprano Judith Buckle, initially focussing on the English art song repertoire, and later joining her touring company Cameo Opera in productions of Madame Butterfly and La Traviata in various venues around the south of England.
Having discovered the barbershop style in 1994, Nick has loved it ever since. He was a founder member of the Redlands barbershop chorus Bayside Harmony and soon became its musical director, taking it to win the Small Chorus category at the national competition in 1997. Nick has also sung in many quartets as either baritone, lead or tenor (not bass!), and made it to a top-ten ranking at nationals in 2005, an achievement his current quartet, Three Squirrels and a Nut, hopes to surpass.
Nick also plays trumpet in the Redland City Bands with a preference for the jazzier repertoire.
Nick has been the River City Clippers’ director since 2017. His career highlight so far was the privilege of directing the chorus’ moving performance of If I Give My Heart To You at the 2018 nationals in Adelaide. He is looking for more such moments in the future.
