ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment

After the sudden death of Rob Guest, OBE, in October 2008, and in recognition of his achievements in the musical theatre industry, ANZ and ANZ Trustees established a memorial fund in his honour to help emerging young performers in musical theatre.

The ANZ Trustees Foundation: ANZ Rob Guest Endowment will be awarded each year to an emerging musical theatre performer selected by a panel of industry experts. The Award will provide the emerging performer with further knowledge and training in the industry to develop their potential.

Under the guidance of the Endowment’s representative committee, John Frost OAM, Tim McFarlane, Bernadette Hayes and Kellie Dickerson and supported by a number of external organizations, 2009 saw the Endowment created, the competition launched and the inaugural concert staged at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. Hosted by Bert Newton, the concert saw some of Australia’s finest musical theatre performers take to the stage including Caroline O’Connor, Rhonda Burchmore, Marina Prior, Anthony Callea and the casts of Chicago and WICKED. Attended by 1000 people it was a phenomenal way to start what is hoped to become a regular and celebrated part of the Australian musical theatre industry. The 2009 concert, paired with the bucket collections held at theatres throughout Australia and the national competition has resulted in their being a wide recognition of the cause within the industry and general public, something the committee hopes to take the cause to new heights in 2010.

On Monday 12th October, 2009 at Her Majesty’s theatre, Melbourne, the inaugural ANZ Rob Guest Endowment Concert was presented by ANZ Private Bank.