Choir of Ormond College

The Choir of Ormond College, the University of Melbourne, was founded by Douglas Lawrence in 1982. It was an eight-part choir with twenty four choral scholars, who were both residents and non-residents of the College. Under the directorship of Douglas Lawrence (1982-2006), the Choir of Ormond College performed and recorded regularly and gave 12 international concert tours of New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and Europe.

In January 2007, John O'Donnell, esteemed keyboard artist and early music specialist, became the new director of the Choir with Dr Calvin Bowman as organist. The Choir lead the music each Sunday evening during semester in the College's Chapel and presented a series of public concerts annually, as well as performing at festivals and other events on an irregular basis.

In December 2008, the Choir launched its most recent CD, Concord and Time, coinciding with a series of performances of J. S. Bach's Magnificat (BWV 243) (with Christmas interpolations, BWV 243a).

During Holy Week 2009, the Choir performed Arvo Pärt's Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem with Jerzy Kozlowski (as Jesus), Matthew Thomson (as Pilate) and Ensemble Gombert. In June and July 2009, the Choir toured Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

On ANZAC Day (25 April) 2010, the Choir performed an afternoon concert at the College, In Memoriam, with works by Calvin Bowman (Beach Burial - world première), Hugo Distler (Totentanz) and Petr Eben (Hořká hlína - Australian première). Hořká hlína ('Bitter Earth') was accompanied on piano by renowned Australian pianist, Stephen McIntyre.

In mid-August 2010, the Choir combined with Ensemble Gombert to record a CD of Johannes Brahms' complete unaccompanied choral works. In October 2010, the Choir performed (for the final time) an afternoon concert of music for spring at Duneira estate, Mount Macedon.

In January 2011, John O'Donnell resigned as director of the Choir and the Choir disbanded. The College has since employed Raymond Yong as the Director of Music, who has created a new un-auditioned singing group, the Ormond Singers.

Read more about Choir Of Ormond College:  Directors, Discography

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