Magnificent Vivaldi

The Brisbane Chamber Choir join forces with UQ's Pulse Ensemble and UQ Singers to bring Vivalvdi to life. Vivaldi’s Venice will be brought to life through rich choral textures, expressive solos, and vibrant contrasts. The Nickson Room provides a perfect acoustic backdrop for this captivating performance. 

Program

Magnificat - Antonio Vivaldi

Beatus Vir - Antonio Vivaldi

Soloists

Cassandra Barnett

Cassandra Barnett is a soprano at the University of Queensland, currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Music (Honours)/Science (Biomedical Science) under the tutelage of Dr Shaun Brown. This year, she is completing her honours thesis in cross-genre jazz and classical singing and its role in vocal pedagogy. 
 
At UQ, Cassandra has had the pleasure of performing in several major concerts including Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Mozart’s Requiem and Duruflé’s Requiem as well as taking part in many School of Music’s productions including Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica, Johann Strauss’ Eine Nacht in Venedig and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Le Nozze di Figaro. 
 
As a soloist, Cassandra has had the privilege of performing Mozart’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Magnificat, and Schubert’s Mass in G with the Amadeus Orchestra and Pro Musica Singers directed by Neil Flottman and Joshua Blake. This year, Cassandra has performed as a guest soloist alongside Symphoria orchestra in their inaugural performance and had the opportunity to travel to Winton and Longreach for Opera Queensland’s Festival of Outback Opera. She has also had the pleasure of performing as the soprano soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria earlier this year with the UQ Singers and UQ Chorale. She looks forward to performing more later this year in the UQ Singers annual Scenes concert and her Honours Recital.

Jessica Irwin

Jessica Irwin is a mezzo-soprano at the University of Queensland in her second year of a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree under the tutelage of Sarah Crane. She has performed in several major concerts, including Mozart’s Requiem and Poulenc’s Gloria with the University’s School of Music, Duruflé’s Requiem with Brisbane Chorale and Verdi’s Requiem with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She has also taken part in the School of Music’s production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. She looks forward to performing as Tisbe from Rossini’s Cenerentola and Julia from Dove’s Mansfield Park in the annual UQ Singers Opera Scenes concert later in the year. 

Nic Wallace

Nic Wallace is a baritone in his third year of the Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the University of Queensland, under the tutelage of Dr Shaun Brown.

In his time at university, Nic has had the opportunity to perform as part of the chorus for UQ’s productions of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Strauss’ Eine Nacht in Venedig and major concert works including Poulenc's Gloria, Verdi's and Mozart’s Requiems and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Nic has also performed roles in staged excerpts of Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Offenbach’s Madame L’Archiduc and Purcell’s Fairy Queen. 

In 2024, Nic performed as the bass soloist in Haydn's Mass in Time of War and had the pleasure of performing the role of Antonio in UQ's production of Le Nozze di Figaro. While at UQ, he has also had the privilege of traveling to Winton and Longreach to take part in Opera Queensland's Festival of Outback Opera from 2023-2025. This year, Nic has performed as part of the Queensland Art Song Festival, and as a soloist in Liszt’s Via Crucis with Brisbane Chorale and Fauré's Requiem with the Bel Canto Singers. He looks forward to taking part in the School of Music's annual Opera Scenes concert and the Opera Gala performances later this year."

Oliver King

Oliver King is a third year Bachelor of Music (Classical Voice) and Science (Chemistry) student at the University of Queensland, under the tutelage of voice teacher Shaun Brown. During his time at UQ, he has sung the roles of Dr Cajus from Verdi’s Falstaff, Mr Rushworth from Dove’s Mansfield park and Scoevola from Offenbach’s Madame L’archiducin staged excerpts. Earlier this year he travelled to Winton and Longreach with Opera Queensland for their Festival of Outback Opera. His chorus work includes Mozart Requiem and Poulenc Gloria with UQ, Duruflé Requiem with Brisbane Chorale and Verdi’s requiem and Opera Gala with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Rachael McFarlane

Rachael is a second year Bachelor of Music student at the University of Queensland under the tutelage of Sarah Crane. Her recent UQ credits include “Rosa” in Offenbach’s Christopher Columbus and as the soprano cover soloist for the Poulenc Gloria. She has also had the pleasure of being a cover soloist for Festival Outback Opera and 4MBS’ Gilbert and Sullivan Spectacular. Prior to beginning her classical singing journey, Rachael made appearances in several musicals, stage plays and choirs. In 2022, she was a member of the Anglican Schools Music Festival choir where she was selected as a vocal soloist for the festival’s finale at QPAC.

Brisbane Chamber Choir

The Brisbane Chamber Choir is directed by its founding director Graeme Morton. One of Australia’s more eclectic choirs, the choir combines musicians from diverse backgrounds and regularly performs in all musical styles from Renaissance repertoire to contemporary music, including premieres and commissions. A regular feature of our annual season has become the Magnificent Bach services which highlights the cantatas, masses and passions of Johann Sebastian Bach.

The ensemble regularly collaborates with other organisations including premieres of the Vietnam Requiem and the Prisoner of War Requiem in Canberra for the Flowers of Peace in partnership with the Australian War Memorial. Earlier this year, the performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici signified another successful partnership with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, with previous performances under maestros Stephen Layton and Dane Lam. 

The choir has released a number of recordings including, in 2016, Mass of the Dreaming, a celebration of Australian choral music. It features the premiere recording of the Ross Edwards’ title work, together with compositions of musical friends Stephen Leek, Matthew Orlovich, Andrew Schultz, Paul Stanhope, Keren Terpstra and Joseph Twist. 

The Brisbane Chamber Choir regularly commissions new works. Composers of commissioned works being performed during 2023 include Carl Crossin, Matthew Orlovich and Andrew Schultz. The choir is currently the resident Chamber Choir of St John’s Anglican Cathedral and an Affiliate Ensemble of The University of Queensland School of Music.