Orpheus Choir of Wellington

The Orpheus Choir of Wellington is an auditioned mixed-voice symphonic choir based in Wellington, New Zealand. It has over 150 members and regularly performs with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Wellington.^[1]

Orpheus Choir of Wellington
Choir
Performing with Orchestra Wellington, August 2017
Former name	Hutt Valley Orpheus Society
Founded	1950s
Music director	Brent Stewart (2014–)
Headquarters	Wellington, New Zealand
Rehearsal space	Te Whaea
Affiliation	New Zealand Choral Federation
Associated groups	New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Orchestra Wellington
Website	orpheuschoir.org.nz

History

The Hutt Valley Musical Society was established in 1947, and the Hutt Valley Orpheus Society choir emerged from it a few years later.^[1] Its first conductors were Horace Hunt and Len Schwabe, then Malcolm Rickard.^[2]

By 1958 the choir was performing in large choral works with the National Orchestra (now the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra) conducted by John Hopkins, such as the Mahler Resurrection Symphony, the Verdi Requiem, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in 1967.^[1]

In 1983 Peter Godfrey became the musical director upon Malcolm Rickard's retirement.^[2]

The current musical director is Brent Stewart, appointed in 2014.^[3] Margaret Medlyn and Suzanne Snively are Vice Patrons of the choir.^[4]