PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE THROUGH PASSION,
COMMITMENT & COMMUNITY
Oriana Choir
Founded as the Oriana Concert Choir in November 2005 by Daniel Calder, the Oriana Choir, under the umbrella of Oriana Arts Inc, is based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.
Oriana is an auditioned SATB choir with membership open to adult singers from 18 years onwards. Also part of Oriana Arts Inc is the Sunshine Coast Youth Choir.
A Champion Choir
From humble beginnings, Oriana has gone from strength to strength. Up until 2015, the choir regularly competed in the Heritage Queensland Eisteddfod. On five occasions, Oriana has been awarded Queensland Champion Choir status. In 2012, at the international Llangollen Eisteddfod in Wales, the choir achieved a remarkable 2nd in the Mixed Choir section, 3rd in the Ladies' Choir section and the men placed 4th in the Chamber Choir section.
Performing a Varied Repertoire
The Choir performs across a wide range of genres and has undertaken a variety of challenging works and productions including Benjamin Britton's Ceremony of Carols, Symphony of Psalms by Stravinsky, Sixties and Seventies music revues, a Lounge, Swing and Jazz concert, Schubert's Mass in G and Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Requiem with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra, Handel's Messiah, a movies music revue and many more. Visit the reviews page to see what others have said about Oriana performances!
Oriana has received high acclaim from both music reviewers and residents of the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane for its four performances of Handel's Messiah in 2008, 2011, 2016 (with Queensland Symphony Orchestra) and 2023 (with Sinfonia of St. Andrew's).
Recordings
Over the years Oriana has produced several CD recordings and returned to the recording studio in early 2017 to complete it latest offering titled Cathedral Dreaming. Other titles include a double CD recording of Handel's Messiah, another of Messiah choruses, a 2012 Tour CD and Faure's Requiem, recorded in 2013. Our latest offering is a live recording of Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra at St John's Cathedral.
All our music is available for download from your favourite online music service or you can stream it from Spotify.
International Tours
Oriana has completed three international tours to Europe. The first, in 2012, was an incredible success, with Oriana performing at St Paul's Cathedral, St Martin in the Fields, Westminster Palace; Eglise St Merri and Eglise de la Madeleine in Paris; St Peiterskirk in Ypres; and at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. The second tour took place in 2016 and was also highly successful, with the choir performing to great acclaim in beautiful and historic venues such as Matthias Church and Esztergom Basilica in Hungary; The Empire Theatre in Hlohovec, Slovakia; Peterskirche in Vienna and Melk Abbey in Salzburg, Austria; and the Hlahol Concert Hall in Prague, Czech Republic. In 2019 the choir once again toured, this time to Italy with performances in some of the world's most magnificent spaces. Highlights included being invited to sing Mass at St Peter's in Rome as well as at St Mark's in Venice.
Talented, Enthusiastic Leaders
Since its inception, the choir has been fortunate in its gifted conductors and accompanists who have maintained a passion for developing and presenting innovative and high quality music, theatre and arts opportunities. The choir is currently overseen by Oriana Artistic Director, Fay Baker who, in consultation with the Management Committee, appoints each Seasonal Music Director.
ANCA Member
The Sunshine Coast Oriana Choir is a member of ANCA - the Australian National Choral Association.
Join the choir
If you are interested in joining Oriana, please
Choir for Hire
Oriana is available for hire for private, corporate and community events and functions.
Artistic Direction
Oriana Artistic Director & Accompanist:
Fay Baker
Rehearsals
Regular rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7.15 to 9.30pm at Connections on King, on the corner or Gloucester Road and King Street,Buderim. Additional rehearsals, generally on Sunday afternoon or Monday evening, may be called, from time to time, in the lead-up to particular events.
Members are required to attend at least eighty percent of rehearsals leading up to each event in order to qualify for performance.
Performances
Members are encouraged to be involved in all performances and activities throughout the year. These generally include three major concert performances, with possible casual events and some Christmas performances.
Fees and charges
Membership fees are payable on an annual basis. Fees to cover the cost of materials, hall hire and the Artistic Team are charged for each season. There are three concert seasons each year. The membership fee is due in January each year. Details of the costs associated can be provided on enquiry or upon joining.
