The Choir
Founded in 1977, the Oriana Chorale is an auditioned group of professional and amateur musicians who are dedicated to quality performance of a diverse selection of choral music.
Oriana’s mission is enriching the cultural life of Canberra with choral music projects of the highest standard, both a cappella and with instrumental accompaniment. The Chorale repertoire ranges from Schütz, Tallis and Byrd, to Rachmaninov, Pärt, Whitacre, and contemporary Australian composers.
Directed by Dan Walker, the Chorale presents three or four major concerts each year, often with associate artists, and is a regular participant in the Canberra International Music Festival as well as a collaborator of prominent vocal ensembles such as The Song Company and The Tallis Scholars. Members of the community have the opportunity to join the Chorale for its annual choral workshops.
Musical Director
Dan Walker
Canberra composer, conductor and performer Dan Walker is one of Australia’s most in-demand choral specialists. He has written music for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gondwana Choirs and Halcyon.
As a performer, Dan is a member of the Canberra-based Luminescence Chamber Singers, Sydney-based Cantillation, and Pinchgut Opera. He has been a member of The Song Company and was a founding member of early music ensemble ‘The Parson’s Affayre’. A keenly sought-after conductor, Dan has appeared as chorus-master for the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony
Choruses, and is now music director of the Oriana Chorale and Canberra Choral Society.
The Oriana Chorale’s previous Music Directors included some of Canberra’s most distinguished musicians such as Roger Wellman (the Chorale’s founder), Christopher Lyndon Gee, Bengt-Olov Palmqvist, Piroska Varga, Richard McIntyre, Sally McRae, Rowan Harvey-Martin, Tobias Cole, David Mackay, Robyn Mellor, and Peter Young.
Photo credit: Hillary Wardhaugh
New music: commissions and premieres
Since its foundation in 1977, Oriana has combined established choral repertoire with a commitment to bringing new music to Canberra. The Chorale has commissioned Australian composers, presented world and Australian premières, and since 2025 has supported the next generation through its Emerging Composer in Residence program.