Music at McClelland - Australian Chamber Choir

Established in 2007 by Douglas Lawrence, the Australian Chamber Choir has given 125 concerts in Europe and many more in Australia. The singers have won accolades in the mainstream press in four countries for their “flawless intonation, superb uniformity, perfect tonal balance and astounding dynamic range” (General-Anzeiger Bonn).

With programs ranging from a cappella to oratorio, from European Renaissance to contemporary Australian, the choir provides a rigorous training ground for young professional singers. ACC graduates currently work in Europe with ensembles such as Les Arts Florissants, Bristol Ensemble, Freiburg Barockorchester, and Vox Luminis.

The ACC’s reputation for “lucidly articulated” (The Age) performances of Bach’s motets has earned them several invitations to perform at JS Bach’s St Thomas’ Church in Leipzig. Other prestigious engagements have included the Cathedrals of Berlin, Bonn, Freiberg (Germany), Klagenfurt (Austria), Konstanz, Lausanne (Switzerland), Legnica, Pelplin (Poland), Ribe (Denmark), and Venice (Italy) and St Martin-in-the-Fields, London (UK). The choir’s 2024 world premiere, in Australia and Venice, of a lost cantata by Vivaldi’s orphan protégé, Agatha, is the subject of a new documentary.

Australian tours have taken them to Sydney, Canberra and regional NSW. Every program performed in the choir’s hometown of Melbourne is also presented in regional Victorian centres.

Music at McClelland is generously supported by Igor Zambelli, Mary-Jane Gething AO and The Robert Salzer Foundation. It is a seated event and is held in the Sarah and Baillieu Myer Education Pavilion.