ABOUT US...

The Canberra Choral Society is the leading choral group in the ACT. It regularly performs works from the established choral repertoire as well as 20th Century and contemporary works, including specially commissioned compositions.

The Choir has performed with the Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra Symphony Orchestras. In addition, for over 40 years the Choir has taken choral singing to regional areas of NSW performing with local choirs in joint productions. It also performs free concerts in popular venues, such as the Australian Museum and the National Gallery of Australia, and contributes to community events, such as the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Australian War Memorial.

Canberra Choral Society - 26 August 2007.

Over the years, it has also participated in many opera productions in Canberra and the region including Verdi's Aida (televised on ABC TV), Vaughan Williams' The Pilgrim's Progress (the first performance in 25 years) and Bizet's The Pearl Fishers (most recently under the baton of Richard Bonynge).

In 1992 the Society received a Canberra Critics Circle award for its Fortieth Anniversary Concert program. In August 1995, as part of the Australia Remembers 1945-1995 program, the Society performed Benjamin Britten's War Requiem to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, and in December 1996 presented Handel's Messiah in celebration of the Australian National University's 50th anniversary. In September 2000, the Society participated with other major Australian and overseas choirs in the gala performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand) at the opening concert of 2000 Olympic Games Arts Festival

In May 2004 it was invited to perform Britten's St Nicholas, in the Canberra Symphony Orchestra's subscription series. Other performances in 2004 included Duruflé's Requiem and Rutter's Gloria and Mozart's Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (the Solemn Vespers), K339 and Thamos, König in Ägypten (Thamos, King of Egypt), K345 in its final concert for the year.

In 2003 the Choral Society performed two versions of The Seven Last Words of Christ, by Haydn and by Dubois, Stravinsky's Les Noces and Handel's Israel in Egypt. The Society also collaborated in with three other choirs, the Llewellyn Choir, SCUNA and the Oriana Chorale in Choralaid, a combined concert to raise funds for the Canberra Bushfire Appeal. In addition the Choir joined the Orange City Choir and Orange Symphony orchestra for a performance of works by Faure and Vaughan Williams.

In 2002, the Society's 50th Anniversary year, a major concert featuring Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony and Dona Nobis Pacem was presented in May. This was followed by a series of community outreach a capella concerts in Canberra and Cowra. Per Chorum Angelorum, the final concert of sacred works, featured organ and brass and was given two performances in St. Andrew's Church.