The Ipswich Orpheus Chorale Musical Director - Robert Shearer to lead the choir for the 2022 season. Robert comes to us with a wealth of knowledge, solid qualifications and experience in performance, musical theatre and choral singing having performed internationally and with many SEQ theatre companies including Opera Queensland.   We are very excited to be working with Robert in preparation for the 2022 Queensland Eisteddfod and our 2022 program.

IOC Founder - George Hogg OAM





 Past and present members of the Ipswich Orpheus Chorale are remembering George Hogg, OAM with great affection, admiration and gratitude. He founded the Chorale in 1969 and his involvement has spanned 52 years.

Under George’s leadership, the Chorale grew to over 100 members and became one of the foremost choral bodies in the state, winning Champion Choir at many Queensland Eisteddfodau, singing at prestigious community events and staging many memorable musical productions.

After stepping down from his role as Conductor, George was President of the Chorale for many years and then served as a member of the Management Committee which he only relinquished this year.His love of music kept him singing with the choir until just a few weeks ago and the current Musical Director and Management Committee are fully committed to singing and performing in the building named in his honour – “The George Hogg Performance Centre’, and to keep the Ipswich Orpheus Chorale banner flying in his memory.


Leah Bell
President
Please come along to a rehearsal and Join Us

the show goes on - so come and join us

My message at the beginning of the year was that ‘the show must go on’.  I am pleased to say that in the last few months of a very challenging year the show has gone on and will continue to do so until the Christmas break.
 
With the continuing and ever-changing Covid rules, our activities have had to be carefully planned with the flexibility to be able to make last-minute changes.
 
It has been rewarding that we have managed to sing and perform throughout the year – our first event being the Pre-Eisteddfod Concert in March followed by the Queensland Eisteddfod at Easter.
 
The ‘Best of British’ concert was the musical highlight of the city’s SPARK Festival and showcased the Chorale’s versatility, singing with the Camerata Chamber Orchestra, the Amberley Brass and the rock band Jam Pact.  The Gymfa Gahni Welsh Singing Festival allowed us to perform some of the Welsh music in our repertoire and appearing at the city’s GALVANIZED Festival was an opportunity to sing some Australian Colonial and early English folk music. Performing at these events has attracted some new members.
 
We are currently in rehearsal for our ‘Orpheus Unmasked’ Variety concert on December 3&4  which will feature the entire ensemble singing the music of several genres, small group work, and will show the talent and versatility of some of our soloists. We will also be starting on music for the Queensland Eisteddfod in 2022.
 
We are proceeding with all of this at the very difficult time of mourning the loss of the Chorale’s founder, George Hogg, OAM after 52 years of leadership dedication and continued involvement ended with his recent passing.
 
George will be missed by past and present members of the Chorale and the current Musical Director and the Management Committee are committed to keeping his memory alive in our music and to keep performing in his
honour.

If you have ever wanted to sing come along and join us.  If you are interested please contact our president Leah on 0407 596 160 or at president@ipswichorpheuschorale.org.au.