The Faithful Shepherd

Music for Easter

The Canberra Choral Society (CCS) is delighted to launch its 2024 concert program with The Faithful Shepherd – Music for Easter, a concert of beautiful English choral music, in St Paul’s Anglican Church, Manuka, 70 Canberra Avenue, Griffith ACT, at 2pm on Saturday 23 March.

The program features works from the 19^th and 20^th century, including Edward Elgar’s Benedictus Op.34 No.2, Hubert Parry’s Crossing the Bar, Gerald Finzi’s festival anthem Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice, John Tavener’s poignant setting of William Blake’s The Lamb and the Mass in G Minor for SATB soloists and double chorus by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

This feast of English masterpieces will be directed by Dan Walker, CCS Music Director, with Callum Tolhurst-Close on organ.

Dan Walker remarks, “I welcome the Canberra community and friends to join us for an uplifting musical afternoon in the beautiful St Paul’s Church, Manuka. Don’t miss this wonderful concert!”.

Background

Canberra Choral Society (Established 1952)

More than 70 years of fine music making

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 and has become 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. Although not offered in 2023, CCS looks forward to resuming ‘Come and Sing’ in 2024. CCS also explores collaborative partnerships with community music groups in the region, including an annual concert with the National Capital Orchestra, and has previously been engaged by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, when their program required choral forces.

See: https://canberrachoralsociety.org/about/

Dan Walker

Canberra composer, conductor and performer Dan Walker is one of Australia’s most in-demand choral specialists. He has written music for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gondwana Choirs and Halcyon. As a performer, Dan is a member of the Canberra-based Luminescence Chamber Singers, Sydney-based Cantillation, and Pinchgut Opera. He has been a member of The Song Company and was a founding member of early music ensemble ‘The Parson’s Affayre’. A keenly sought-after conductor, Dan has appeared as Chorus Master for the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Choruses, and is now Music Director of the Canberra Choral Society, the Oriana Chorale and the Canberra Community Chorale.

See: http://www.danwalkercomposer.com/