Victoria Welsh Choir

VICTORIA WELSH CHOIR

Sunday 25 June 2023, 3pm

Deniliquin Baptist Church – 33 Edwards Street.

Book your tickets today. $35. Free for Live Music Subscribers & under 18’s.

South West Music Regional Conservatorium present the Victoria Welsh Choir. Now into its 44th year of music making, this is a traditional Welsh male voice choir, singing in four-part harmony. An event not to be missed.

VICTORIA WELSH CHOIR

Now into its 44th year of music making, VicWelsh is a traditional Welsh male voice choir, singing in four-part harmony and presenting about fifteen concerts a year prior to Covid 19's disruption to public performances. Most of the choristers are from Greater Melbourne but there is also an established and thriving Bendigo chapter and a fast-growing Ballarat group. The choir regularly tours interstate and internationally with the next UK tour planned for September 2023.

Apart from the annual St David’s Day concert, the choir also stages other major concerts with stars like David Hobson, Roy Best, Marina Prior and Silvie Paladino.

FALEIRY KOCZKAR OAM – MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Since arriving in Australia in 1964, Faleiry (a native Welsh speaker) has held senior music teaching and directorship appointments in several states and was appointed Musical Director in 1994. In 2014 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to music education and to Welsh culture.

RUSHAN HEWAWASAM – ASSOCIATE MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Sri Lankan by birth, Rushan started singing at 9 and conducting at 15. He joined the choir in 2012 as a second tenor and is an accomplished soloist, pianist, musical arranger as well as being the conductor of Conchord Choir. He is the CEO of a national medical education and GP practice group.

LORNA OGILVIE – ACCOMPANIST

Originally from South Africa, Lorna has been the choir's accompanist since 1998 and has toured nationally and internationally with them on many occasions. She teaches piano, accompanies candidates for VCE and AMEB examinations and freelances as an accompanist for schools, choirs and for local and international soloists.

ELIZABETH PATON - BENDIGO ACCOMPANIST AND ORGANIST

After eight years piano study, Elizabeth studied the organ in Melbourne and is now relief organist at several churches throughout Bendigo. She spent 13 years as accompanist to the Bendigo Youth Choir, and occasionally plays for Bendigo Chamber Choir & Bendigo Chorale. Elizabeth joined the VicWelsh in 2002.

MARY O'DRISCOLL – BALLARAT ACCOMPANIST

Graduating from the Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne in 1980, Mary worked initially as a piano teacher, accompanist and choral director before becoming Director of Music (1989-1998) at Sacré Coeur and at Loreto Mandeville Hall 1999-2018.

Since early 2022 she has been the accompanist at VicWelsh’s Ballarat chapter.