Tony Backhouse

Choir Director • Vocal Arranger • Singer • Workshop Leader
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Tony Backhouse, BA, B.Mus, is one of the leaders in
the Australasian a cappella movement.

He founded Australia’s foremost a cappella gospel choir Café of the Gate of Salvation in 1986, and wrote music for & directed it for 21 years. He founded a cappella choir the Honeybees and has directed and sung with reclusive male a cappella group the Heavenly Light Quartet since 1996.

In demand for his inspiring teaching style, Tony has run more than 2000 vocal workshops throughout the world for the public, for festivals, schools, universities, churches, organisations and corporate training events.

‘Tony Backhouse has been, and continues to be, a major influence on music in Sydney and beyond.
The a cappella revival is almost entirely due to him.’
Martin Wesley-Smith, composer, Australia

Tony Backhouse’s voice can be heard several times on The Cafe of the Gate of Salvation and each time he manages to cleverly shape otherwise simple melodic lines. He’s very effective at blending into the ensemble and then appearing again, wrapping around notes, gliding above the sopranos, growling between the tenors and baritones. Few ensemble leaders have as clear an understanding of their group’s sonic spectrum,
and how their voice fits within as a soloist.’

Contemporary Acappella Society of America

Vocal workshops

A cappella gospel workshops
(open to everyone)
Master classes for community choirs
& educational institutions

Singing tours

2023 – click on the links below.
Italy 13-28 May
Fiji 22-29 August
Bali 8-14 September

Arranging & Composing

Songs & A cappella Compositions
Vocal Arrangements
String Quartet Arrangements
Classical Guitar Music

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