On Sunday 31st May, 2009 – on the eve of the anniversary of the first concert in 1979 – 1,200 people gathered at the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria to celebrate 30 years of The Boîte. The event began informally, with three whimsical musical processions in the surrounding streets – led by Mal Webb on trumpet (from Flinders Street Station); Phil Carroll on the Turkish zurna (along St Kilda Rd from Southbank Boulevard); Evan Davies on bagpipes, (striding through Alexandra Gardens) to join together at the Gallery entrance, before being greeted by the Kurdish Dance Group in the Gallery Foyer. As the crowd had settled into the Great Hall and were welcomed to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy, they were treated to a concert since described as a ‘musical soundscape…representing the past 30 years.’
Stephen Taberner, as Artistic Director of the celebration, led the 30th Birthday Choir as they performed pieces he had composed for the event, alongside a program of 15 diverse performers, reflecting both some past Boîte events as well as emerging artistic talents. The concert was released as a DVD.