Geelong’s longest-running choir will mark a significant milestone next weekend with a celebratory concert.
The Geelong Chorale celebrates 75 years of music-making at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Newtown on Sunday, May 18.
The choir will perform a wide selection of works from its archives, including madrigals, sacred works, opera choruses, art songs, folk songs and spirituals, some of which reflect significant moments in the ensemble’s history.
Led by conductor and musical director Allister Cox OAM, the performance will feature soprano Lisa Breen and as accompaniment by violinist Patryscja Radzi-Stewart, cellist Ilana Idrus, pianist Kristine Mellens and organist Ken George.
The choir was founded as The Geelong Madrigal Society in 1949 by renowned conductor and music educator George Logie-Smith OBE.
Mr Cox, who has been at the helm of the choir since 2011, said the ensemble’s legacy continued to connect Geelong with musical traditions of the past.
“It’s the oldest ongoing choral organisation in Geelong,” Mr Cox said.
“St Mary’s Choir in the Basilica celebrated their 70th year since their foundation last year. And a lot of other choirs have sprung up in more recent times, like the Geelong Harmony Chorus, who are absolutely fantastic.
“But for a long time there weren’t any other choral organisations that were secular groups. We are not a church choir; a lot of the music that’s been written over the centuries was sacred, but we try to do a lot of other things.
“I suppose we’re very much a traditional sort of choir. I don’t want to say we’re old-fashioned, but we’ve been going for 75 years, so I suppose in some ways, with all that history behind us, we are a bit.”
Mr Cox said he felt “very lucky and incredibly honoured” to lead the choir at this point in its history.
“We rehearse on Monday, and I’m always amazed, but (choir members) will say to me ‘Monday night’s my favourite night of the week’,” he said.
“The chorale is an incredibly friendly group, really welcoming. Some nights there is a lot of laughter, and I always think that’s a really good sign because it means people are comfortable and they’re enjoying themselves.”
A celebratory supper will follow the concert, with food and drink provided. Visit trybooking.com/CZRQF for tickets and more information.
