The Boîte

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.

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 Wilson AMus, BMus (hons), DipEd Katrina has a background in music education, arts marketing, performance, and ethnomusicology. A passionate believer in the importance of community participation in the arts, she enjoys meeting and working with artists, teachers, school students, singers and participants at the Boite who get involved in the singing projects and attend the performances. At the Boite she is project manager for the Melbourne Millennium Chorus, the Boite Schools Chorus and The Boite Singers' Festival at Daylesford.

Holly de Jong (BMus hons) studied trumpet and ethnomusicology at the University of Melbourne, and is currently completing her Masters about Ethiopian music. Holly plays the trumpet, shakuhachi and krar (Ethiopian lyre). Working at the Boite since 2007, Holly organises, promotes and manages events in the World Music Cafe Concert Series, and has the venerated role of "chai wala" - the maker of tea in the Boite office. The Boite staff love their tea.

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

Leah started working at The Boite in 2009, on completion of a Bachelor of Arts featuring Music Industry at RMIT in 2008. She has a background in event organising and working on outdoor festivals. At The Boite she enjoys working on the World Music Cafe, Boite Singers Festival, Melbourne Millennium Chorus and Boite Schools Chorus events.

Ilka White has been involved in The Boite for many years. She is a talented textile artist who created the colourful Boite banner that brightens up the Mark Street Hall at World Music Cafe events. In recent years Ilka has worked at RMIT as a lecturer.

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.

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.

Deidre Egan joined the board as treasurer in 2011. She currently works as the Director, Portfolio Services and Governance in the Legal Services Branch of the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). Managing several teams, totalling 23 staff. With over 20 years experience in the Victorian public service she has demonstrated expertise in leadership, sound administration and accountability for public funds. Deidre acts in a manner consistent with the public service values of responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership, and human rights. I have a Bachelor of Social Science and am currently studying towards a Masters of Public Administration with the Australian and New Zealand School of Government. I have been a member of the Boite for over ten years and actively participate in community music.

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.