Passionate for the natural world, music and art

CHARLES COLMAN November 5, 1936-October 12, 2024

Charles Colman OAM was the second child of Bess and Ron Colman, after James. He and Jim were born in Coraki near Inverell, NSW, but the family soon settled in Narrabeen, where their next two children, Phillip and Ruth were born.

They had a wonderfully free-range childhood enjoying swimming and surfing, sailing and fishing. The pull of the beachside lifestyle remains strong to the whole family with two of his siblings still living in the area. With that in mind, one of his memorials was held on November 8, 2024, at the Collaroy Surf Life Saving Club.

Charles still found time to practise the piano and excelled at school. He skipped a year in primary school, entering the University of Sydney at the age of 16, however in later years felt this was a mixed blessing. He studied music and German, gaining a lot of experience conducting university choirs, achieving an honour’s degree and a scholarship to study conducting in Germany. While there he also attended two summer schools in Siena studying under the great Romanian conductor, composer and music theorist Sergiu Celibidache, the most significant training of his career. Following that he taught music at a school in Kent for a few years.

Returning to Australia in 1964 with his first wife Helen, Charles earned his living as a teacher, building up the highly successful music department at Cranbrook Grammar School. Music education, incorporating the Kodaly method, was as important to him as conducting.

While still teaching at Cranbrook, he fulfilled his conducting dreams when he took over the directorship of the Leonine Consort, which became a full-time professional ensemble in the late 1970s. His programming was always innovative, often commissioning works by notable composers; Nigel Butterley, Graham Hare, Ross Edwards, Martin Wesley-Smith and others. He also provided student composers a chance to have their works sung by professional singers.

Both this group and the Song Company – which followed in 1984 (they continue to this day) – were forerunners in the field of vocal ensemble singing. Many solo singers began their careers in one of Charles’s ensembles, notably Marilyn Richardson, Elizabeth Campbell, Stephen Bennett and Akiko Nakajima. During his career, he conducted many other choirs, including university, conservatorium and school choirs. He is remembered fondly for his engaging and fun personality, expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm for choral music.

Twenty-five years post diagnosis with type one diabetes, his health had to be considered, and he was unable to continue the rigorous work of directing the Song Company. He retired at the end of 1988 after a huge year performing in Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia, for the bicentenary.

After postgraduate studies, he again took up teaching, this time teaching English to migrants and refugees in Australia. Charles then taught English in Belgium and Italy where he and I, his second wife, lived for four years.

During this time, he rekindled his love and talent for painting which he had inherited from his mother, and like her, he specialised in watercolours.

On returning to Brisbane in 1998, Charles continued teaching English and painting while running a bed and breakfast with his wife.

Charles Colman’s Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

He exhibited and sold his beautiful Australian landscape paintings for more than 15 years. They are treasured by people here and overseas.

Ten years ago, Charles and I moved to Melbourne to be near the growing family. He was a wonderful stepfather and grandfather to my two daughters and their children, imbuing them with his passion for the natural world, music, art and love of language and poetry.

Charles seemed to live many lives in addition to his professional careers: solo bushwalking and camping, preserving the environment, bird watching, plant knowledge, gardening, family man, conversationalist, cooking and travelling. Above all, he was loved and respected by all who knew him.

When Charles and I moved to Melbourne in 2014, he initially sought to continue his usual activities of English teaching, walking and exploring Victoria’s bushlands, painting and playing the piano. Within five years these activities started becoming difficult for him. The strange combination of symptoms finally made sense a year later when he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020.

He continued to attend concerts, meet with friends and family, go for his daily walk, coffee and puzzle with his carer. He also enjoyed listening to audiobooks and watching the wonderful selection of concerts available on YouTube, but he desperately missed his freedom. Due to his increasing frailty, his ability to get into the bush on his own, read a book, paint or play the piano were no longer options.

After a stroke on September 25, he passed away on October 12 in the Royal Melbourne Hospital, three weeks and three days shy of his 88th birthday.

Charles leaves a wonderful legacy of musical and artistic achievements and memories of special and fun times.

His long-time colleague and friend, David G Miller AM, said: “For most of us there will be certain people whom we will always remember for the prominent role they have played in our lives. For me, this will always be Charles Colman who, as mentor, colleague and friend, held a very special place in my life for more than 50 years.

“I first met Charlie at one of the innovative Armidale Summer Music Schools and then again in Sydney where I came to continue my music studies and made contact with his iconic vocal ensemble, the Leonine Consort (followed by the Song Company). I was always impressed with his energy and commitment, which over the years has inspired a wide range of similar vocal ensembles throughout Australia. Despite this enduring legacy, he remained gentle and unassuming, inspiring affection and respect in all who knew him.

“With Charles at the helm, I travelled to Wellington NZ, Adelaide, Hobart and regional NSW as the resident collaborative pianist with the ensemble.

“I am so grateful that I have one of his superb Australian landscapes on my lounge-room wall, now providing a perpetual memorial to a very special person who played a significant role in my professional and personal life.

“In addition to his professional commitments, he worked with the next generation of Australians through school music programs, school concerts and the promotion of the internationally acclaimed Kodaly Method with very young children.

“The awarding of an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2021 paid tribute to the breadth and depth of his contribution to the nation’s cultural life. I hope that Charles is never forgotten nor the debt we owe to him for contributing so much and so generously.”

Dorothy Williams and Charles Colman were married for 37 years.