Profiles
Melanie Meers - Conductor and Music Director
Born in Queensland, Melanie has a long pedigree in music and in singing in particular. She was born into an artistic family, her mother a talented artist and both her father and grandfather blessed with quality voices which were heard often in theatre and on stage.
Melanie has learnt from and worked with some of Australia’s most notable musicians; Richard Gill (Australian Opera), George Torbey (Schools Spectacular), Brett Wymark (Sydney Philharmonia) and Peter Rorke and Lawrence Leopard (University of Southeast Queensland).
Melanie studied opera at university in Queensland before singing with the University of New South Wales Choir in 1987. In Wellington (NSW) she led an a Capella group and was involved extensively in theatre and the community being awarded (with her husband Peter) the 2001 Australia Day Community Citizenship Award.
One of Melanie’s most notable achievements was conducting a 1000 voice choir in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for Sing 2001. She was also engaged as Music Director for the 300 voice DET Western Spectacular in 2006.
In Orange Melanie sang with several a Capella groups (leading one of them) prior to taking up her current position as Music Director with OMVC.
With her considerable singing and conducting experience, Melanie is well versed in all aspects of performance and vocal technique and she brings a vibrant enthusiasm and vision to the Choir.
Beverley Glover – Accompanist
New Zealand born, Beverley started piano lessons at the age of eight (and says she is still learning as each year passes). During her college years she studied cello and played in the college orchestra, and was leader of the Madrigal Singers as well as the school pianist.
In 1971 Beverley moved across ‘the ditch’ to settle in Australia. During her years in Qld she was actively involved in church music and was a member of a YFC music team which toured N.Z. Fiji and Western Samoa.
After spending some years in Sydney and Port Stephens, she and her husband Les moved to Orange in 1989 when they both joined the Choir (the then Rowland Gregory Orpheus Singers) as accompanist and chorister respectively.
Beverley has provided the Choir with wonderful service, not only as its accompanist but she has also been an integral part of its organisational structure. For many years she was Choir Secretary and is currently Concert Liaison Officer and a member of the Management Committee. Bev has been the organising force behind most of the Choir’s major tours as well as a great number of its concerts. She accompanied the Choir on its tours to China and Hong Kong in 1993, its two New Zealand tours, and the tour to Wales, Ireland and England in 2002. She has accompanied the Choir in the Melbourne Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Town Hall and in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra.
Bev thrives on a busy life and is also accompanist for the Combined Orange Churches Choir. Her employment is currently full-time as Electorate Secretary to the State Member for Orange. She has worked for federal and state parliamentarians during all of her years in Orange.
Bev has appreciated and been inspired by the three conductors she has worked alongside, each bringing their own special skills and individuality to the Choir. She anticipates an exciting and rewarding partnership with the Choir’s first female conductor, Melanie Meers and looks forward to many more years as a part of the Choir team.