About us

Who we are and what we do
The Sydney University Graduate Choir is dedicated to high quality performances of great choral music by the established masters and by contemporary composers.
As a member of the University’s family of societies and associations, the Choir considers it a particular responsibility to provide opportunities for talented young Australian singers. The annual Joan Carden Award, sponsored by the Choir, is an important vehicle for this.
Under the leadership of our Music Director, Christopher Bowen the core of the Choir’s activity is the three major concerts given annually - May, August and December - in the Great Hall of the University (in May 2006, the Choir gave the first Australian performance of Beethoven’s important Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II). The Choir performs in the annual City of Sydney Christmas Concert in the Town Hall, and looks for opportunities to cooperate with other Choirs and musical organisations.
In December 2007 the Choir organised and led a very popular performance of Sydney Sings Messiah at the Town Hall. In 2005 the Choir performed in the popular show Scotland the Brave at the Sydney Opera House. In 2006 the Choir performed at a fund-raising event on behalf of the Royal Flying Doctor Service at the Angel Place Recital Hall and joined other Sydney-based choirs at Fox Studios to record music for the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning Australian film Happy Feet.
Since 2002 the Governor of New South Wales, and now Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Dr Marie Bashir, has honoured the Choir by agreeing to act as our Patron.

Add an extra dimension to your next event - engage the Chamber Choir. The Chamber Choir is available to perform at a range of events including degree conferrings, formal services, weddings, parties, promotional events.
Please contact the Choir's to discuss details.
The Choir’s Chamber Choir, formed from within the full Choir in 2004, is designed to add to our flexibility and overall performance capacity. The Chamber Choir reached the state finals of the ABC FM Choir of the Year competition in 2006 and regularly performs at University and external events.