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We are a non-profit choir based in Moonee Valley. We've been performing around Moonee Valley since 1979.
The choir has around 20 to 35 singers, aged 18 to 80+, with varying levels of musical ability. We perform sacred and secular works, usually holding two concerts a year. We perform Handel's Messiah each December.
Purpose
Purpose
We foster choral music in Moonee Valley by:
Rehearsing, performing and recording quality choral works
Developing members' voices and musical skills
Creating a welcoming, social and supportive choir community
Sharing beautiful music with the public at affordable prices
Working with other groups to support and promote choral music
Join us and help harmonise our community through music.
Musical leadership
Musical leadership
Musical Director
Ellery Durrant
Musical Director
Ellery Durrant
Ellery Durrant joins us in April 2026 as Musical Director. He is a singer, conductor, and pedagogue. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Distinction) from the University of Newcastle. Further training includes masterclasses in consort singing with The Song Company and conducting with The Australian Voices.
Ellery’s Choral experience is extensive, encompassing numerous international tours and eisteddfods with the award-winning Newcastle Chamber Choir. As Musical Director of The SeaSide Singers, he co-created their three-week tour of Japan in 2018, and was a grant recipient of the Australia-Japan foundation in that year.
An advocate of community music making, he currently leads the Laverton Community Choir, the Mosaic Community Choir, and now the Essendon Choral Society.
Ellery has extensive experience as a private music tutor. He specialises in working with changing voices, fostering confidence in his students. He has significant experience teaching neurodivergent students, tailoring lessons to support student-led objectives.
Beyond music, Ellery is an avid snowboarder and an aficionado of strategy games.
Accompanist &
Assistant Conductor
Accompanist &
Assistant Conductor
Yvonne Carr
Assistant Conductor
Assistant Conductor
Christine Timoney
Assistant Conductor
Michael Cooper
Assistant Conductor
Michael Cooper
ECS Committee
ECS Committee
Our Committee - Rear: Cecilia Cooper (Member), Vashti Maher (Visual Communications), Sophie Fanning (Member), Elizabeth Blyth (Member), Brigid Cooper (President).Front: Michael Cooper (Secretary), Deborah Louey (Treasurer), Catherine Hall (Librarian), Angela Gravina (Member)
Musical Director 2023 - 2025
Chan Ern Theng (Ed)
Musical Director 2023 - 2025
Chan Ern Theng (Ed)
We were very fortunate to have Ed at the helm from 2023 to 2025. 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.
Musical Director 1989 - 2023
Greg Hocking, AM
Musical Director 1989 - 2023
Greg Hocking, AM
Greg was Musical Director of the Essendon Choral Society from 1987 - 2023 and is still involved with our annual The People's Messiah. 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 the resident conductor. We were thrilled that Greg was recognised 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 1985 - 1988
Simon Harvey
Musical Director 1985 - 1988
Simon Harvey
Simon was Musical Director of the Essendon Choral Society from 1985 - 1988. He conducted ECS in many fabulous concerts, including Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, Handel's Messiah - including the first Sing it Yourself Messiah, Mozart Requiem and the Annual Carols at St Monica's Church.Many of these performances were with Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra and Box Hill Choral Society
Musical Director 1979 - 1985
Peter Nicholls
Musical Director 1979 - 1985
Peter Nicholls
Peter Nicholls was the Founding Musical Director of Essendon Choral Society from its formation in 1979 at a meeting convened by Essendon City Council Mayor, Cr. Ken Readwin.Peter conducted numerous concerts, oratorios, and the Annual St Monica’s Church Christmas Carols. In 1983 the Choir became a Chapter of the Royal Victorian Choir along with the Box Hill Choral Society. Peter Nicholls resigned in April 1985 due to pressures of his professional life as a Patent Attorney.
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