History

The Llewellyn Choir was founded in 1980 by Emeritus Professor William (Bill) Hawkey, Director and Professor of Music at the Canberra School of Music (now the ANU School of Music). It was originally named the School of Music Community Choir but was renamed in 1990 in honour of the founding Director of the Canberra School of Music, Ernest Llewellyn.

The choir has been bringing fine choral music to Canberra audiences since 1980. The works it has performed over this period can be seen on our concert history page. The choir also travels on a regular basis to perform with other choirs. Recent tours have been to the Merimbula Jazz Festival in 2017 and 2025, Rhylstone in 2024 and Braidwood in 2025. Earlier tours inlcuded Albury and Cowra, to Noumea in New Caledonia in 2009 and 2013 where we performed joint concerts with the Les Alizés choir, and a concert tour of Spain in 2018.

The choir has had three Music Directors since its foundation: Bill Hawkey (1980-1992), Richard McIntyre (1992-2005) and its current Director Rowan Harvey-Martin.

First Director - Bill Hawkey

New Zealand born Emeritus Professor William (Bill) Hawkey retired in 1999 from the position of Director and Professor of Music at the Australian National University. Bill had a distinguished career in music as an educator, administrator, orchestral and choral conductor, composer , pianist and organist. Bill founded, and conducted the Canberra Community Choir for 10 years, and was founding Musical Director of the School of Music Community Choir (later named The Llewellyn Choir). In New Zealand he had been the long-term music conductor of the Christchurch Harmonic Choir.

In retirement on the south coast of New South Wales, he quickly became involved in communal music activities, becoming conductor and music director of Montague Choristers in Narooma and The Nomad Singers in Merimbula and president of Sapphire Coast Music Society.

Honoured with an MBE (NZ) in 1974, he later received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2014. After once again “retiring”, to Dalmeny NSW, he died, surrounded by his family on Saturday 2 February 2019.

Read a City News obituary for Bill, published on 5 February 2019.

Second Director - Richard (Rick) McIntyre OAM

Richard (Rick) McIntyre OAM began conducting The Llewellyn Choir in 1992. A composition graduate from the University of Sydney, he was Associate Principal Bassoonist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for 10 years before moving to Canberra in 1978. He is a foundation member of the renowned wind quintet, The Canberra Wind Soloists (Australia’s most long-lived professional chamber ensemble). He has been Guest Principal and concerto soloist with the SSO and other Symphony Australia orchestras, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and has performed with the Australia Ensemble and numerous other prominent chamber groups. His association with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra as its Principal Bassoonist dates back to 1965.

He was Conductor and Musical Director of the Canberra Youth Orchestra from 1980 to 1990 and worked with the School of Music Orchestra, Canberra Opera, Canberra Philharmonic Society, the Canberra Chamber Orchestra), and three years as Musical Director of The Oriana Chorale. His numerous conducting activities outside of Canberra have included the foundation and development of the Barrier Reef Orchestra.

His 35-year career at the Canberra (now ANU) School of Music played a significant part in the creation of its erstwhile international reputation. Awards have included 1986 Canberran of the Year, Advance Australia, Sounds Australian, and National Critics’ Circle awards. In 1992 he was granted an Order of Australia Medal, for services to Music and Music Education, particularly for his work with the Canberra Youth Orchestra.

Current Director - Rowan Harvey-Martin

Rowan Harvey-Martin was appointed as conductor of The Llewellyn Choir in 2006. You can find more information about Rowan here.

Ernest Llewellyn CBE

Ernest Llewellyn, after whom the Llewellyn Choir was named, was born in Kurri Kurri, NSW in 1915 . In 1934 he commenced his career as a violist with the Sydney ABC Orchestra and within a year had established his reputation as soloist under Sir Malcolm Sargent. In 1949 he toured the eastern states with Hephzibah Menuhin, presenting complete violin and piano sonatas of Beethoven. For the next 15 years he was Concertmaster with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, including 5 years as Assistant Conductor. He moved to Canberra in 1965 as Founding Director of the Canberra School of Music, and was the Musical Director and Conductor of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra from 1966 to 1980. He retired as Director in 1980 and died in Sydney in 1982.

Patrons

In the past we have had two patrons: former ACT Government MLA, the late Bill Woods and federal MP Bob McMullan.

Page updated December 2025