Our Director

Rod Stow

I consider myself very fortunate to have been brought up in a musical environment. I was born one of six children into a Salvation Army family in Western Victoria and from an early age was guided toward a musical pathway through musical activities at Sunday school. By the time I had reached the age of eight I had commenced both theory and practical lessons. Over the next six years period I had studied and completed exams into grade E of music theory and had weekly tutoring on brass instruments.

This was a solid foundation for me to work with and while I didn't go on and study music theory after this period, constant musical involvement with singing, brass bands and some self taught guitar through my teen years meant I was developing all the time. When I reached the age of nineteen, a work transfer brought me to Geelong and I made Geelong Central Salvation Army my place of worship. This gave me the opportunity to spend the next fifteen years involved with the brass band, the songster brigade, which I also conducted for four years and also allowed me to use my limited guitar talents on many occasions.

In December 1996 I discovered The Bay City Conchords through an advert in the window of a gentleman's vehicle which read, "WANTED - Men who love to sing". That certainly sounded like something I wanted to be a part of, so a contact was made and from that point on I became a member of the chorus and joined the Australian Association of Men's Barbershop Singers.

Now well into my eleventh year with the chorus and having directed them for the past two and a half years, this wonderful sound of men's harmony singing has taken me too many places for performances as well as biannual barbershop competitions to capital cities around Australia. For this I am deeply grateful.

Rod Stow
Musical Director
Geelong (Bay City) Conchords