The Georgian Singers were founded by Dr Andrew Gardner, and first started singing under that name in 1995. They have been conducted by John Beaverstock since 2003.
The choir’s name recognises that most of the original members sang in the Occasional Choir of St George’s Cathedral, Perth when Gordon Appleton was Director of Music from 1986 to 1993. Gordon was subsequently Northern Commissioner of the Royal School of Church Music UK, and conducted the Singers on some return visits to Western Australia.
Other singers have come to the choir through their association with the Perth Undergraduate Choral Society (PUCS), the University of Western Australia Choral Society (UWACS), the Royal School of Church Music, and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra Chorus and on recommendation from existing members.
The Georgians have sung the annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols every year from 1995 – originally in St George’s College Chapel at the University of Western Australia, and since then at St Patrick’s. The Georgians also sing an Ecumenical Carol Service every year at Holy Trinity Abbey, New Norcia. This service was first held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, York, where the Revd Anthony Bolt had become Rector in 1990 following his time as Precentor of St George’s Cathedral. On his retirement in 1993, the service moved to New Norcia, and on 30 December this year the Georgian Singers will sing their 25th Ecumenical Carol Service there.
The Singers have been associated with St Patrick’s Church at least since 1997, when they formed the nucleus of the choir for John Beaverstock’s final concert for his Master of Music degree in September of that year. With its exceptional acoustics and fine pipe organ, St Patrick’s is an ideal place for a choir to perform, and since 2003 the choir has presented a Carols Service here annually in the week leading up to Christmas.
The Georgian Singers mainly sing at church services, with a particular emphasis on Choral Evensong. They have sung at many churches in Perth and on occasions further afield, notably in Albany where they sang at the 150th anniversary of St John’s Anglican Church in 1998. In recent times the choir has sung at St George’s Cathedral, St Andrew’s Church, West Nedlands and St John’s Church, Northam.