— Last updated: January 23, 2025

The Star Chorale is a well-established, Melbourne-based community choir dedicated to continuing and enhancing a tradition of excellence in the performance of choral music.

In 2025 Star Chorale celebrates 25 years. For this important milestone, a number of special concerts and performances are planned including a beautiful Passiontide Program, featuring orchestra and soloists, a 25th Anniversary Dinner, a special appearance at the MLC Old Collegians Celebration  Event on Thursday 18 September, and much more!

The choir has a long and close association with Methodist Ladies’ College in Kew, Victoria, and many of its members are former students, staff members, family of students or friends of MLC. But such an association is not a requirement for membership, and Star Chorale is open to all interested members of the wider community, from 16 years onwards.

The Star Chorale’s repertoire includes symphonic masterworks accompanied by orchestra and professional soloists, to classical motets, recent Australian compositions, much-loved folksongs, and traditional music from around the world. Singers wishing to join the Chorale should have some ability to read music, or at least some previous musical experience, and be able to sing in tune.

Since 2024 the Chorale has been under the direction of award-winning conductor Andrew Wailes, widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading choral experts. The choir is accompanied by the outstanding pianist William Schmidt. Recent collaborations have included performances with groups including Box Hill Chorale, The Melbourne University Biomedicine Student’s Orchestra, Melbourne University Choral Society, the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band, Zelman Orchestra and Methodist Ladies College.

2024 concerts included a Schubertiade at historic All Saints East St Kilda including the Mass in G Major and Stabat Mater, with Box Hill Chorale, pianist William Schmidt and members of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra; A Symphonic Spectacular at St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne which featured the Dvorak Te Deum and John Leavitt’s Missa Festiva (performed with the Melbourne University Choral Society and Melbourne University Biomedicine Students’ Orchestra; and a St Andrew’s Day Celebration, featuring a rousing selection of folk songs from Scotland and the British Isles, featuring a guest appearance by the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band.

Rehearsals are held each week on Thursday evenings in Kew, both at Methodist Ladies College, and also at nearby Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Kew, which both boast excellent facilities and acoustics. Off-street parking is available at both venues.

A Symphonic Spectacular, St Paul’s Cathedral September 2024