40 Years Ago

The Oriana Singers were founded in 1969 by David Austin, then of Rosehill School, Alderley.

For many years the choir formed the backbone of the Wotton-Under-Edge Festival Chorus with its major event at that town's Art Festival in May. There they joined other choirs and orchestras to perform such large works as Verdi's Requiem, Bach's B Minor Mass and The 'Dream of Gerontius' by Sir Edward Elgar.

After David Austin left in 1987, the Choir continued to flourish under a series of conductors including Sheila Lusby, Delyth Mayhew and Lynn James.

Varying Venues

The Oriana singers with Diatonic on the Steps of the Royal Chapel in Seville Cathedral

Oriana performed at a variety of venues such as Malmesbury Abbey, Dursley, Uley, Kemble and other outlying villages, at schools and day centres all over the county. On one occasion they travelled to Dorchester Abbey in Oxfordshire. They had been invited to sing choral evensong by Angela Ayers, one of our frequent solo performers, whose husband was organist there. The Choir has also performed at Westonbirt Arboretum, Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust and Dyrham Park and other local venues, to raise money for charities.

Last year members of the Choir teamed up with the Diatonic Choir of Leamington Spa, (founded by David Moss), to travel to Spain, where they performed in Seville and Granada.

Music

Through the years, the number of members has remained constant between 30 and 35, enabling the choir to sing a wide range of music from the early two and three choir music of Victoria and Guerrero, the classical repertoire of Haydn and Mozart to modern masters such as Tippett , Cole Porter and Simon and Garfunkel, and, of course, David Moss!

30th Birthday

Oriana's versatility was reflected in the programme for their 30th Anniversary concert in St. James' Church, Dursley. The works performed were the profound and ethereal Durufle Requiem and Vivaldi's vibrant Gloria.

Lottery Logo!

Sally Lamerton, designer of the winning logo, receiving her prize from Chairman John Avery

In 2003 we were delighted to receive £1000 from Awards for All. Part of this Lottery funded grant was used to pay for a competition to design a new logo for the Choir.

The competition was open to all and there were more than 30 entries from people of all ages. The whole choir voted for their favourites then the committee chose the winner from a short list of five.

Sally Lamerton's entry was voted to be simple and imaginative. It used both the idea of singing and the Elizabethan connection with our name.