The Choir
Founded in 1977, Oriana Chorale is one of Canberra's established chamber choirs, bringing together accomplished professional and amateur musicians with a shared passion for exceptional choral music.
Under Musical Director Dan Walker, Oriana performs repertoire spanning five centuries, from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary Australian compositions. Through imaginative programming, collaborations with leading musicians and a commitment to commissioning new works, the choir makes a distinctive contribution to Canberra's musical life.
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.