Lyndell Allen has had a lifelong enjoyment of and commitment to choral music, both as a singer and conductor. She started as a chorister at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Geelong at the age of 6. This passion was encouraged by a number of choral directors throughout her school education, with opportunities including singing as a chorister with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and directing her first choir as a high school student. Lyndell was also a member of the Trinity College Chapel Choir during this time, working under directors including Dr. Christopher Dearnly.
Lyndell received a Churchill Fellowship in 2003 to study Choral Conducting techniques and methodologies in England, the USA and Hungary. Through this Fellowship Lyndell was able to study and work in some of the leading institutions in each country with leading choral exponents including Stephen Cleobury, Malcolm Archer, John Scott, James Lancelot, Richard Shephard and Simon Lole (England), James Jordan (USA) and Katalin Kiss and Peter Erdei (Hungary). In 2012Lyndell attended the 11th China International Choral Festival and International Federation of Choral Music World Choral Summit, attending workshops and performance with choirs and choral experts from around the world. Lyndell completed the Gondwana National Choral School Conductors Course in 2018, led by leading Australian conductor Graeme Morton, where she was also fortunate to work with Carl Crossins, Paul Holley, and Lyn Williams. In other Professional Learning opportunities she has worked with and learned from Graham Abott, Richard Gill, Faye Dumont, Stephen Leek, Mary Goetze (USA), Rodney Eichenberger (USA) and Stephan Parkman (Sweeden).
Lyndell first moved to Ballarat to take up a teaching position at Ballarat Grammar. During her career at the School she taught music at all year levels from K-12, directed a wide range of ensembles and as Director of Choirs redesigned and developed the Choral Program to offer opportunities for students staff and members of the wider school community to engage with and enjoy Choral singing. This included the preparation and direction of John Rutter’s Gloria for 100 voice choir, brass and organ for the Celebration of 100 years of education on the Wendouree Campus which attended by the Governor General of Australia.
Her role as Director of Music at the Anglican Cathedral in Ballarat includes the planning of the Music for the worship in the Cathedral and preparation and direction of the choir for weekly services, an annual Requiem for All souls Day in November and a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas.
Since 2015 Lyndell has been the Music teacher and Choral Director at Newington Primary School, where she has developed the Music Curriculum around the ideals of the Kodaly Philosophy and an emphasis on developing music literacy through a practical experience of music. In this role she is able to live her believe that Music Education is essential for everyone, not just those who can afford it, and that all children should be able to access practical opportunities to experience and learn Music. She teaches music to all students in Foundation to Grade 6, including the Violin program for all students in Grade 2. Lyndell conducts the Seedlings Choir for all children in Grades F-1, the Saplings Choir for participating students in Grades 2-6 and CrashBangWallop! a senior percussion ensemble for students in Grades 5-6. She also oversees and co-ordinates the visiting teachers instrumental program which offers lessons to students in a wide range of instruments.