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History

Orange Male Voice Choir was formed in 1926 with 22 members. The Choir became the Orange Orpheus Male Choir in 1934, then the Rowland Gregory Orpheus Singers in 1970 in honour of its conductor of 44 years, before returning to its original name in 2008. The appointment of a mere seven Conductors in its long history bears testimony to the strong bonds of friendship shared within the Choir.

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  • Rowland Gregory, 1926 – 1970

  • Donovan Burn, 1970 – 1992, 1994

  • Roland Auguszczak, 1993

  • Melanie Meers, 2011- 2014

  • Leon Paix, 1994 - 2010, Acting Conductor 2014, Conductor 2015. Conductor Emeritus 2016 -.

  • Barry Patterson, 2016 - 2020

  • Philip Rees, 2020 -
     

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  • Sadie West, 1926 - 1930

  • Maisie Moore, 1930 - 1935

  • Winifred Chapman, 1935 - 1955, 1958 - 1970

  • Graeme Rawson, 1955 - 1958

  • David Murree-Allen, 1970 - 1974

  • Merrilyn Winkley, 1974 - 1978, 1979 - 1983

  • Elizabeth Brooks, 1978

  • Sue Channon, 1984

  • Donna Mahoney, 1984 - 1989

  • Carol Fleming, 1989

  • Beverley Glover, 1989-2017

  • Heejin Kim, 2017-2019

  • Oscar Tierney, 2020

  • Elina Yasumoto, 2021

  • Rachael Brooking, 2022-

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  • Competitors in the first Australian Male Voice Championships in 1932.

  • Winners of the City of Sydney Eisteddfod on five occasions.

  • Performances with international artists Harry Secombe, John McNally, June Bronhill and Julie Anthony.

  • Performances in the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall, Melbourne Concert Hall, Great Hall of Parliament House, National Library in Canberra, Cardiff's St. David's Hall and in the Royal Albert Hall, London.

  • First Australian male choir to compete at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales in 1985.

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  • Great Britain and Europe. 1985

  • China and Hong Kong, 1993

  • New Zealand in 1997, 2004 and 2011

  • Wales, England and Ireland 2002. The highlight of this tour was an invitation to sing in the 1000 male voice celebration of the Centenary of London Welsh Male Voice Choir, at the Royal Albert Hall before an audience of 7,000.

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  • 1926. Choir formation 

  • 1932. Competed in Australian Male Voice Championships, Sydney

  • 1932. Official opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge

  • 1976. 'Night of Stars.' Official opening Orange Civic Theatre

  • 1976. Perform with June Bronhill

  • 1977. Civic function honours Choir's 50th Anniversary

  • 1982. Choir sings with Harry Secombe, Sydney Opera House

  • 1985. First international tour (Wales, Europe). Becomes first Australian choir to perform at Llangollen International Eisteddfod

  • 1986. John McNally sings with Choir, Sydney Town Hall

  • 1993. Second international tour – Hong Kong, China

  • 1996. 70th Anniversary celebrations

  • 1997. Third international tour – New Zealand

  • 2001. Choir performs at Parliament's Great Hall

  • 2002. Fourth international tour – Wales, Ireland, London (Royal Albert Hall with 1000 voices)

  • 2004. Fifth international tour – New Zealand

  • 2007. South-East Queensland tour, 

  • Male Choirs Association of Australia concerts - 2008, Llewellyn Hall, Canberra; 2010, Sydney Town Hall; 2012, Dallas Brookes Hall, Melbourne; 2014, AIS Arena, Canberra; 2016, Entertainment Centre, Wollongong.

  • 2011. Sixth international tour - New Zealand

  • 2015. Western Australia tour and Bunbury Men of Song Festival.

  • 2016. 90th Anniversary Celebrations. Paul Jarman composes "Friendship in Song" for OMVC.

  • 2019 & 2022. With Eric Bogle and Paul Jarman in-concert in Orange and Bathurst.

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