Conductor and music director Sam Allchurch’s repertoire spans the works of Bach and Handel through to contemporary works by Australian composers. The Sydney Morning Herald said that under his leadership, “Sydney Chamber Choir’s singing is as nuanced and refined as ever, and their spirit abounds in hope”.

Sam returns to In Conversation to discuss the Sydney Chamber Choir's 50th anniversary gala, which features Paul Stanhope’s Requiem along with five specially commissioned works from Australian composers. He delves into the choir’s dual focus on early and contemporary music, explains the commissioning process from a conductor’s perspective, and reflects on the choir’s resilience during the pandemic. Sam also speaks about his musical upbringing, his formative experiences including with the Gondwana Choirs, his ambitions for greater national and international recognition for the choir, and the importance of re-performing new music. We hear about his masterclass with the Berlin Radio Choir, the specific challenges of choral conducting, and his personal inspirations.

Sydney Chamber Choir presents its 50th Anniversary Gala Concert at 3pm, Saturday 5 July in the City Recital Hall.