The Choir

The Oriana Singers are a chamber choir of 25 - 30 singers, based in the Dursley/Wotton-under-Edge area in Gloucestershire. Most choir members come from the surrounding towns and villages. We work hard, in a friendly rehearsal atmosphere, to achieve a high standard of concert performance.

We sing a wide range of sacred and secular music from the early 16th century to the present day. Recent concerts have included works by Bach, Handel, Byrd, Tchaikovsky, Sweelinck and Bruckner.

We also sing compositions and arrangements by our musical director, David Moss.

History

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.

Venues

Over the years, we have performed in Dursley, Wotton under Edge, Malmesbury, North Nibley, Uley, Kemble and at other outlying villages, at schools and day centres all over the county.

We have also supported various charities by singing at Westonbirt Arboretum, Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust, Dyrham Park, Newark Park, Ozleworth Park and even at the local Motorway Services.

On occasion, our travels have taken us to Wells Cathedral, Dorchester Abbey (Oxon) and the St Ives Festival, as well as a number of overseas venues.