About ECS

The Essendon Choral Society is a non-profit choir based in the community of Moonee Valley. We have been performing in and around Moonee Valley since 1979.

We are a mixed amateur choir of 20-35 singers, of all ages. We perform a variety of sacred and secular works - usually holding two concerts each year, in addition to a regular performance of Handel's Messiah in December.

Rehearsals are on Tuesday nights from 7.15 pm
at the North Essendon Uniting Church, 132 Keilor Road, Essendon.

New singers are always most welcome.

Purpose

We aim to foster the growth of choral music in Moonee Valley and its neighbouring areas through various means:

1. Creating Opportunities: We offer our members the chance to rehearse, perform, and record choral music, helping them showcase their talents and passion.

2. Skill Enhancement: We focus on developing our members' choral music skills, enhancing their performance abilities, and refining their individual voice production and singing skills.

3. Artistic and Social Experience: Our community provides a platform for members to embrace the artistic, choral, and social dimensions of a choral society. Together, we aim to uphold and share the values of quality, enjoyment, and camaraderie.

4. Accessible Music: We endeavour to bring high-quality sacred and secular music performances to the local area, making them accessible to the public at reasonable costs.

Additionally, we actively raise funds and collaborate with other associations, clubs, or organisations that share our goals of promoting and enriching the world of choral music.

Join us in our mission to harmonise the community through the power of music.

Musical leadership

Musical Director
Greg Hocking, AM

Greg has been Musical Director of the Essendon Choral Society since 1989. He has considerable experience conducting choirs and orchestras as well as performing in shows. Professionally, he is an entrepreneur and theatrical producer and runs the Athenaeum Theatre and the Comedy Club. A founding director of the Melbourne Opera Company, he is also resident conductor. We were thrilled that Greg was recognized in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours being awarded an AM for "significant service to the performing arts as a conductor, director and theatre manager, and to the development of the Melbourne comedy industry."

Musical Director
Chan Ern Theng (Ed)

We are very fortunate to have Ed at the helm since 2023. Ed is a classical pianist, choral conductor and singer. Ed graduated from the Master of Music (Performance Teaching) program at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Ed is the musical director for the Essendon-based female choir, Grace Notes Singers. He also directs the St Columba's College Chamber Choir, the St Monica’s College Male Vocal Ensemble, and is accompanist for the Camberwell-based choir, Yarra Gospel.