Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Bringing together a community of voices - young and old

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs presents the art of choral singing at the highest standard, and develops the talents of those with a passion for singing, in Sydney and beyond. Founded in 1920, it has become Australia’s finest choral organisation and is a Resident Company of the Sydney Opera House.

Led by Music Director Brett Weymark OAM since 2003, SPC comprises of three auditioned and three community choirs that perform a range of repertoire from choral classics to musical theatre and commissions by Australian composers. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs presents its own season of concerts with leading conductors, soloists and orchestras. In 2002, SPC was the first Australian choir to sing at the BBC Proms (Mahler’s Symphony No.8 under Sir Simon Rattle), returning again in 2010 to celebrate the Choirs’ 90th anniversary. The choirs perform in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s season every year as they have done for more than 80 years. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs also presents a series of community singing events throughout the year – Chorus Oz (our annual big sing), PopUp Sing and singing workshops throughout Sydney and regional NSW.

In 2020, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs celebrated 100 years. Despite the restrictions on live performances in that year, it pressed ahead with a commissioning project – 100 Minutes of New Australian Music – featuring composers Brett Dean, Elena Kats-Chernin and Deborah Cheetham, among others. 2021 saw a cautious but bold return to live choral performances and will return to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall to perform in 2022.

There is nothing quite like it, seeing and feeling the exhilaration of hundreds of voices singing with precision and vibrancy...

Louise Herron AM, Sydney Opera House CEO

Artistic and Music Director Brett Weymark

Brett Weymark is one of Australia’s foremost choral conductors. Since 2003 Brett Weymark has conducted the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs throughout Australia and internationally. He has also conducted the Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland, West Australian and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Sydney Youth Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic and productions for WAAPA, Pacific Opera and OzOpera. He has performed with Opera Australia, Pinchgut Opera, Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Song Company and Musica Viva.

He studied singing and conducting at Sydney University and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and continued conducting studies with Simon Halsey, Vance George, Daniel Barenboim and Sir John Eliot Gardiner, amongst others.

His performances have included Bach’s Passions and Christmas Oratorio, the requiems of Mozart, Verdi, Duruflé and Fauré and Orff’s Carmina Burana. He is champion of Australian composers and has premiered works by Matthew Hindson, Elena Kats-Chernin, Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards and many others. He has prepared choirs for Sir Charles Mackerras, Zubin Mehta, Edo de Waart, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Sir Simon Rattle. He has recorded widely for the ABC and conducted film scores, including Happy Feet, Mad Max Fury Road and Australia.

Recent highlight performances include Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (West Australian Opera), Paul Stanhope’s Jandamarra (SSO), Michael Tippett’s A Child Of Our Time (Adelaide Festival) and Carousel (Adelaide State Opera).

In 2001, he was awarded an Australian Centenary Medal. In 2021, Brett was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the performing arts through music.

Brett is passionate about singing and the role that music plays in both the individual's wellbeing and the overall health and vitality of a community’s culture. Music can transform lives and should be accessible to all.

Executive Director Matthew Beale

Matthew Beale is a seasoned Professional Arts Manager with over 30 years in the classical music industry, and is the Executive Director of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. He was brought on to expand the Company’s profile and cement its place as the leading choral organisation in Australia.

Previously, he served as Chief Executive of UK-based professional choir, ORA Singers, growing it from its inception alongside renowned Choral Director Suzi Digby OBE. Under his leadership, ORA Singers swiftly rose to prominence, boasting 10 critically acclaimed albums with Harmonia Mundi, over 60 new choral commissions, global radio play, collaborations with internationally recognised institutions, frequent professional engagements, and numerous industry awards, including the Opus Klassik for Best Ensemble.

Matthew's educational background includes a BA and MA in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University, as well as post-graduate vocal studies at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio in London. He brings a unique perspective on arts and people management, augmented by his experience as Managing Partner at Fortbridge Consulting UK Ltd where, as a Financial Adviser, he oversaw client capital-raising strategies, and enhanced client profiles through marketing and PR. This experience has equipped him with a strong background in financial management, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement.

Throughout his career, Matthew has been an advocate for the transformative power of singing. He has a rich history as a professional choral singer, with ensembles such as the Tallis Scholars and The Sixteen, and as an operatic soloist at opera houses including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Berliner Staatsoper, La Fenice and Glyndebourne Festival. His commitment to fostering new and under-supported talent is evident in initiatives like the ORA Singers Young Composers’ Scheme, aimed at underprivileged state school students; and the Graduate Showcase, providing opportunities for composers in the early stage of their professional careers.