Sydney Harmony is fortunate to have appointed Vicki Dwyer as its Musical Director in early 2006. Since then, Vicki’s significant qualifications, experience and unrelenting drive have ensured the continued development of Sydney Harmony as the region's leading men’s barbershop a cappella Chorus.
Vicki has always loved music and movement and has completed formal studies in piano, singing and dance from The Australian Institute of Music and The Royal Academy of Dance. She is in demand as an energetic teacher of both piano and singing through her private studio.
In 2001, Vicki was appointed as a “Certified Director” in Sweet Adelines International and in 2011 she attained the prestigious ranking of "Master Director" in the Sweet Adelines organisation. Vicki is the current Director of the Circular Keys Chorus, a position she has retained over the years in addition to her post at Sydney Harmony.
Vicki's barbershop career began in 1996 when she first joined Sydney's Circular Keys Chorus, where she was soon enlisted as Lead Section Leader and chorus Choreographer. When she moved with her family to San Francisco in 1999, Vicki joined the Lead Section of the Bay Area Showcase Chorus (BASC). She was soon promoted to Assistant Director, Lead Section Leader and a member of the BASC Music Staff. With Vicki as a key member of the chorus, Bay Area Showcase competed at the 2001 Sweet Adelines International Convention in Portland, Oregon, where they achieved 5th place in the International Chorus competition. During that period, Vicki also sang Lead with the quartet Cat's Pajamas, who competed successfully in the SAI Region 12 competition.
While in the USA, Vicki participated in the SAI Director Certification Program and the Regional School for Directors and Assistant Directors.She was also active in teaching the barbershop craft to secondary school students in the Santa Clara Schools District and contributed to the Regional “Young Women in Harmony” program. In September 2003, Vicki was honoured to be one of only six directors from around the world to be invited to direct at the Massed Sing in Phoenix during the Sweet Adelines International Convention.
On her return to Australia in 2002, Vicki took up the directorship of Circular Keys and applied her energy and learning to the musical development of that Chorus. By 2004, Circular Keys had achieved third place in the SAI Australian regional competition in the mid-size chorus category and fourth place overall. Under Vicki’s leadership, Circular Keys won the Region 34 national chorus contest to become Australian Regional Champions in 2011. Among their many achievements and awards, Circular Keys have most proudly represented Australia three times at SAI International contests - Nashville in 2009, Denver in 2012, and 2018 in St Louis.
As a member of the SAI Region 34 Music Faculty, Vicki is a much sought after coach for Choruses and Quartets around the country. In addition, she has acted as faculty at a number of workshops and educational events for the men of Barbershop Harmony Australia's Eastern Region. Vicki is also an experienced and accomplished quartet singer, having spent a number of years singing Lead in the 4-time Australian champion quartet Accolade. That quartet represented Australia a total of three times at SAI International contests in the USA, the final occasion being Honolulu in 2008. Vicki currently is the Lead of Alouette, the Sweet Adelines Australia 2018 Silver medalist quartet.
Since taking on the role of MD with Sydney Harmony, Vicki has led the chorus through countless performances and in a number of successful contests around the country and overseas - including BHA National Conventions in Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne & Newcastle. Some of her recent achievements with Sydney Harmony include placing 3rd at the 2023 Pan Pacific Harmony Mens Chorus Contest in Auckland, New Zealand, were runners up in the 2018 Sydney Eisteddfod Australasian Open Choral Championship and placing 5th at the 2022 Barbershop Harmony Australia National Chorus Contest in Hobart.
With Vicki’s boundless passion for singing and her enduring commitment to the continued development of the chorus through musical education and good vocal technique, Sydney Harmony is indeed privileged to have her as our Musical Director.
