Orpheus Choir
Wellington
New Zealand’s premier symphonic choir
NZ’s premier symphonic choir
Thrilling audiences for seven decades
Tena Koe Welcome!
We’re often referred to as “the mighty Orpheus” because we bring the big choir experience — dramatic, spectacular, and emotionally charged performances of stunning choral music — to a wide variety of events. These include not just our own sell-out subscription series concerts but also festivals and pop concerts — think NZ’s biggest backing group. Our concerts are often recorded by Radio New Zealand.
Formed in 1947, our varied and sometimes surprising repertoire includes everything from the most loved works like Messiah and all the great Requiem Masses to forgotten or less known masterpieces such as Vaughan Williams spectacular Sea Symphony and James MacMillan’s emotionally devastating Seven Last Words from the Cross to Māori Waiata and Dave Dobbyn.
We are custodians of some of the greatest music ever written and we love to make it come alive for contemporary audiences of all ages and stages.
Powerful drama, awe, sorrow, and a touch of folk music
Audience members will experience these emotions and more in our August performances of I Was Glad.
With an hour and a half of irresistible choral music and tantalising international soloists, the Orpheus Choir Wellington presents I Was Glad in August with performances in Wellington and Kāpiti.
Brent Stewart, musical director extraordinaire, will lead the 150 strong chorus through a program of luscious music accompanied by an instrumental ensemble featuring the internationally renowned Martin Setchell on the Organ.
For more information and to buy tickets go to Our Concerts Page.
Then, in November, we join forces with Orchestra Wellington for an unmissable performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor.
According to our Music Director Brent Stewart, the B Minor Mass is “the most beautiful and magnificent of all Bach’s masterpieces.”
We’re thrilled to bring to be bringing together sopranos Emma Pearson and Jenny Wollerman, alto Maaike Christie-Beekman, tenor Declan Cudd, bass Wade Kernot, and Douglas Mews on harpsichord. A mighty line-up for a mighty work.
For more information and to buy tickets go to Our Concerts Page.
What the critics say
Percussion-driven Carmina Burana with the Orpheus Choir a triumph — a feeling of being immersed in an oceanic surge from all concerned of total and utter commitment to the music.
…I thought the chorus work among the best I’d ever heard in a “live” Messiah performance
Peter Mechen, Middle C
A packed Cathedral was here treated to a concert of variety and solid achievement…. the choir sang beautifully, and the halo effect of the Cathedral’s acoustics suited it ideally.
John Button, Dominion Post/Stuff
Orpheus Choir Wellington
In action at the Michael Fowler Centre
Sounds like you?
If you would like to join the choir we encourage you to register
your interest in auditioning.