Vale Lois Isabel Bogg

With the death of Lois Bogg on 2 March 2008, the singing teaching fraternity has lost a respected colleague and friend.

Lois, a resident of Canberra since 1958, initially trained and worked as a social worker. She quickly became involved in the musical life of Canberra, having begun singing lessons in Sydney in her earlier years. She had beautifully-led contralto voice of quality and warmth. As a soloist she sang in oratorio, opera, and, consistent with her strong interest in new music, a number of premieres of contemporary Australian music.

1970s
By the mid 1970s Lois had begun teaching, and after an operation for a brain tumour in 1978 which curtailed her singing career, teaching gradually took over.

1980s and ANATS
In early 1988, Lois became one of the foundation members of the newly formed ANATS. Lois was a great advocate for ANATS as a resource for teachers and a vehicle for the promotion of learning and research within the singing teaching profession. She enthusiastically recruited various Canberra singers and singing teachers to the cause! In 1993 she, along with a number of local teachers, organised and presented the then annual national conference.

1990s
The ACT Chapter of ANATS was set up in 1994. Lois was the initiator of all the activity which resulted in the formation of the ACT chapter, and at the same time became Deputy President of the National Council, a position she held for two years, also serving as the first ACT representative on the Council.

2000s
Lois’s health became increasingly poor in the latter years of her life, but she never allowed it stop her from doing the things she enjoyed and believed in. Her determination was apparent in her completion of a Master of Applied Science degree in 2003, for her research into the counter tenor voice. She was delighted to present to her colleagues some of the fruits of that research at the 2004 Conference in Sydney. Indeed she always felt strongly that ANATS should be an organisation through which knowledge is shared.

ANATS Canberra 2006
When the ACT Chapter hosted the 2006 national conference for ANATS, ill health was already taking its toll, but Lois was still able to take part in much of the organisation of the conference. Given her interest in research she took great pleasure in overseeing the papers and posters presentations! The conference was a happy time for Lois, especially when she received an ANATS Certificate of Recognition, which she proudly displayed in her teaching room.

Lois was very generous with her time. She offered many opportunities to students, in addition to regular lessons: sight-reading lessons, workshops for technique and performance, delving through her books for information on examination pieces, and access to her huge repertoire of music. The keener the student, the more Lois rose to the challenge of creating a well-rounded musician.

Lois was a dedicated teacher, a generous colleague and a good friend. She leaves her husband Keith, son Christopher, daughter Alison, and two grandchildren.