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Willoughby Symphony Choir is widely recognised as the region's finest community choir. Our choir exists under the auspices of Willoughby City Council and is partnered with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra with whom we perform regularly. Our repertoire comprises mainly classical works: oratorios, masses, requiems, operatic and symphonic works. As well as large-scale choral works, the Choir also performs a cappella and popular music.

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Our Next Major Concert

Willoughby Symphony Choir

2018 Concerts

GALA CONCERT
Saturday 3 February 7pm,  Sunday 4 February 2pm
The Concourse

FLIGHT
Vaughan Williams
Five Mystical Songs, Toward The Unknown Region
Saturday 24 March 7pm,  Sunday 25 March 2pm
The Concourse

THE SEASONS: Haydn
Sunday 6 May 2pm
The Concourse

Willoughby Symphony Choir – Unplugged

Experience the WSC as you’ve never heard them before, in a program of indulgent a cappella classics and music by Elton John, Kate Miller Heidke, Art Garfunkel, John Farnham, Carly Simon and Dolly Parton.

Sunday 24 June 2018, 2pm

Zenith Theatre, Chatswood

 

LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS

Saturday 18 August 7pm,  Sunday 19 August 2pm.
The Concourse

ALEXANDER NEVSKY: Prokofiev
Saturday 3 November 7.30pm
The Concourse

LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Thursday 15 November 6pm
The Concourse

CAROLS IN THE PARK
Saturday 1 December 5pm
Willoughby Park

THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
Sunday 9 December 2pm
The Concourse

 

 

Read the full text in the menu heading: REVIEWS

Haydn: The Seasons
Sunday 6 May 2018
The Concourse
Review summary by Sydney Arts Guide:
Paul Nolan
Conductor Peter Ellis constantly brought out instrumental drama in the orchestra, ensuring the shifts in Haydn’s effective accompaniment were achieved with precision, power and passion. It was an effective reading of the score and was at all times a stable layer over which the vocal work and revised libretto spoke to us.
This concert showcased Willoughby Symphony Choir and Willoughby Symphony Orchestra well. It also brought a key work of the oratorio canon to the audience as an interesting new or old favourite.
Review summary by classikON:
Tony Burke
This was quite an undertaking for the Orchestra and Chorus and they carried it with aplomb. Peter Ellis ensured that tempi were maintained and obtained a high standard of accuracy from the players and choir. The soloists excelled throughout and the combination of their clarity of voice and the fine translation by Paul McCreesh ensured that the audience could follow the action without rustling their programme notes. Overall, a feeling of exhilaration from the audience and performers alike. 

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Handel: The Messiah
Monday 27 November 2017 
Review summary by Pacific Opera
Peter Ellis conducted the Willoughby Symphony Choir and Orchestra & Pacific Opera Artists in a wonderful and buoyant Messiah... celebrating the 275th birthday of this remarkable composition and the 85th birthday of the Killara Music Club. Also remarkable was there were parts that I don't remember hearing live before. 
The Choir sang with gusto and oozed excitement, performing very well with some brisk tempos set by the Maestro. The Orchestra, led by David Saffir, played with equally matched energy, and with the exception of an over zealous timpanist, were well balanced throughout the 3 hours of the performance. I must acknowledge the wonderful playing by principal cellist, trumpet and harpsicord.
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Mendelssohn: Elijah
Sunday 22 May 2016
Review summary by Sydney Arts Guide:
Lynne Lancaster
This spectacular, magnificent performance of Mendelssohn’s ELIJAH almost lifted the roof off and set the concert hall at the Concourse alight. Under the enthusiastic, energetic baton of Maestro Peter Ellis Willoughby Symphony and Willoughby Choir combined for a thrilling oratorio. It was at times rather overwhelming...

The Choir, a major participant as prophets of Baal, the assorted rabble and more, surged and swelled thunderously at various points with terrific, electric timing and phrasing, as led by Ellis. There was a consistent round full sound with nuanced shading. The Willoughby Symphony Choir was able to provide a delightful mixed double quartet and a high quality angelic trio. The prayers to Baal choruses vibrantly rang out and the following capture and slaying of the false priests was tumultuous and threatening. When they begged for rain we could feel their distress and the shimmering yet dull atmospheric brass, and iron as written in the lyrics.

This was a very exciting concert that, at times, gave me goosebumps. 

Sing with us!  

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Welcome to Willoughby Symphony Choir, founded in 1973 and one of Australia's finest community choirs. You will have a very enjoyable time singing and making fine music with us! 

If you would like to sing with Willoughby Symphony Choir, please click here on Join Us for more information and an on-line form where you can apply for an audition. 

WSC Christmas CD:

Joyful & Triumphant 

Willoughby Symphony Choir and Orchestra Christmas CD will make a wonderful Christmas gift. Its 15 tracks comprise traditional and Australian carols as well as special Christmas music, highlighted by Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols. An 18-page booklet is enclosed, full of details about the delightful music and the choir and performers.
This CD is only $20 plus postage. Buy it HERE.

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