Press Kit: Haydn – The Seasons

The Canberra Choral Society (CCS) and National Capital Orchestra (NCO) are excited to continue their series 
of annual collaborations with the presentation of The Seasons by Franz Joseph Haydn.

Composed towards the end of Haydn’s prolific career in Vienna, following his highly successful 
religious oratorio The Creation, this exhilarating secular oratorio features a Canberra-based
 cast of choral and orchestral musicians, and three excellent soloists, and will be sung in
 English.

Conducted by Louis Sharpe, with Chorus Master Dan Walker, the two organisations will come 
together on the Llewellyn Hall stage with soloists Sarahlouise Owens (Soprano), Ryan
 O’Donnell (Tenor) and Sitiveni Talei (Bass), and with narration by Laura Tingle.

The CCS and NCO are Canberra’s premier community-based choral and orchestral ensembles
 with a proud tradition of bringing works from the classical and contemporary repertoire to 
audiences in the ACT region.

Louis Sharpe comments “It is with great pleasure that I return to Llewellyn Hall to conduct the
 wonderful CCS and NCO in their annual collaboration as flagships of community music-making 
in Canberra.

This wonderfully evocative and delightful work by Haydn will showcase the 
amazing musical talent available in our community.

This Autumn afternoon performance by 
your local ensembles and three fabulous soloists should not be missed!”
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Background

Canberra Choral Society (1952 - to date)

The Canberra Choral Society (CCS) originated in 1952 with a small group of people who began singing together for their own pleasure and musical advancement. Under the leadership of 17 successive Music Directors over the past 70 years, the CCS has developed into an auditioned symphonic choir becoming one of the most innovative and exciting choirs in the nation’s capital.

CCS presents up to four concerts a year, including - since 2011 - an annual 'Come and Sing' program in which up to 120 non-auditioned singers from the broader community rehearse with the choir and perform a major work with professional soloists and orchestra. CCS also explores collaborative partnerships with community music groups in the region, including the National Capital Orchestra, and has previously been engaged by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, when their programme required choral forces. Further information: https://canberrachoralsociety.org/about/

Dan Walker, CCS Music Director Dan Walker has been the CCS Music Director since 2019 and brings an outstanding musical background in composing, performing and conducting to the role. Dan regularly performs with Cantillation, Pinchgut Opera, Luminescence Chamber Singers, Clarion quartet and is a guest member of The Song Company. As a composer, conductor and performer Dan is one of Australia’s most in-demand choral specialists. Further information: https://canberrachoralsociety.org/about/music-director/