On 31 May, Brisbane’s Old Museum will host The Queensland Choir’s Baroque Spectacular. As well as airing Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring and Vivaldi’s Gloria in D Major. It will also be a last hurrah for Kevin Power, for whom this concert will be his last as the choir’s musical director.

Power’s association with The Queensland Choir began 55 years ago as an accompanist. He became musical director in 1981 and has held the post ever since.

Kevin Power, The Queensland Choir and the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra in 2022. Photo © Creative Futures Photography

Under his watch, The Queensland Choir has delivered memorable performances and commissioned several significant works, including Malcolm Williamson’s The Dawn is at Hand, which featured the poetry of Oodgeroo Noonuccal.

Power’s keen ear for rising talent created opportunities for young soloists, many of whom have gone on to significant musical careers, including Mirusia, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lisa Gasteen, Iain Henderson and Samuel Dale Johnson. Didgeridoo player William Barton also performed with the choir when he first came to Brisbane, aged 17.

Power graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium and the University of Queensland in 1973, and...