History

Orange Male Voice Choir was formed in 1926 with 22 members. The Choir became the Orange Orpheus Male Choir in 1934, then the Rowland Gregory Orpheus Singers in 1970 in honour of its conductor of 44 years, before returning to its original name in 2008. The appointment of a mere four conductors in over 80 years bears testimony to the strong bonds of friendship shared within the Choir.

  • Rowland Gregory, 1926 – 1970
  • Donovan Burn, 1970 – 1992, 1994
  • Roland Auguszczak, 1993
  • Leon Paix, 1994 – 2010
  • Melanie Meers, 2011, 2012

The Choir has a long list of outstanding achievements:

  • Competitors in the first Australian Male Voice Championships in 1932.
  • Winners of the City of Sydney Eisteddfod on five occasions.
  • Performances with international artists Harry Secombe, John McNally, June Bronhill and Julie Anthony.
  • Performances in the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall, Melbourne Concert Hall, Great Hall of Parliament House, National Library in Canberra, Cardiff's St. David's Hall and in the Royal Albert Hall, London.
  • First Australian male choir to compete at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales in 1985.

It has undertaken five international tours:

  • Great Britain and Europe. 1985
  • China and Hong Kong, 1993
  • New Zealand, 1997
  • Wales, England and Ireland 2002. The highlight of this tour was an invitation to sing in the 1000 male voice celebration of the Centenary of London Welsh Male Voice Choir, at the Royal Albert Hall before an audience of 7,000.
  • New Zealand, 2004

Some notable events in the Choir's history

  • 1932. Competed in Australian Male Voice Championships, Sydney
  • 1932. Official opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge
  • 1976. 'Night of Stars.' Official opening Orange Civic Theatre
  • 1976. Perform with June Bronhill
  • 1977. Civic function honours Choir's 50th Anniversary
  • 1982. Choir sings with Harry Secombe, Sydney Opera House
  • 1985. First international tour (Wales, Europe). Becomes first Australian choir to perform at Llangollen International Eisteddfod
  • 1986. John McNally sings with Choir, Sydney Town Hall
  • 1993. Second international tour – Hong Kong, China
  • 1996. 70th Anniversary
  • 1997. Third international tour – New Zealand
  • 2001. Choir performs at Parliament's Great Hall
  • 2002. Fourth international tour – Wales, Ireland, London (Royal Albert Hall with 1000 voices)
  • 2004. Fifth international tour – New Zealand
  • 2007. South-East Queensland tour
  • 2008. Llewellyn Hall, Canberra – Male Choirs Association of Australia

 

Executive Members - Honour Roll

President

  • Harold Balcomb 1983 - 1988
  • Jack Dutton 1989 - 1993
  • Jim Richards 1994 - 2000
  • John Rowland 2001-2002
  • Rob Westcott 2003, 2006 - 2008
  • John McDonald 2004 - 2005
  • Chris Morgan 2009, 2011, 2012
  • Ken Fishpool 2010

Secretary

  • Colin Escott 1983
  • Dick Haines 1984
  • John Rowland 1985 - 1993, 1996
  • Ken Fishpool 1994-1995
  • Ray Brady 1997-2000
  • Beverley Glover 2001-2004, 2006
  • John Holland 2005
  • David Woodside 2007-2009
  • John Read 2010 - 2012

Treasurer

  • Dick Haines 1983 - 1989
  • John McDonald 1990 - 2001
  • Laurie Chapman 2002-2003
  • Gerry Sloane 2004-2006
  • John Holland 2007-2009
  • Peter Reid 2010-2012

 

Rowland Gregory Service Award

For many years the Choir has acknowledged outstanding contributions of its members through service awards. When it returned to its original name in 2008 the award became the Rowland Gregory Service Award as a means of keeping that name before the Choir in perpetuity.

  • 2010    John Spencer
  • 2009    Chris Morgan
  • 2008    Rob Westcott
  •  2005   David Woodside
  •  2003    Rodney Davis 
  •  2002   John Holland