WINDFIRE CHOIR GEELONG
Music at the Basilica formed an exciting choral group, the Windfire Choir, to present sacred choral music. The choir consists of experienced singers and vocal scholars from the City of Greater Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Surfcoast Shire and Lara. We present two concerts a year, most often at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Geelong.
The choir gave its inaugural performance, conducted by Rick Prakhoff on Wednesday 27 March, 2013. The work we performed on that occasion was Franz Liszt’s Via Crucis (Way of the Cross). Other performances include Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Te Deum, Vivaldi’s Magnificat, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, John Rutter’s Requiem and JS Bach's St John Passion, with soloists and orchestra, conducted by Joseph Hie. In 2023 our concerts included Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle and Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio, op. 12.
JOSEPH HIE - Conductor
Joseph Hie is a versatile and emerging artist based in Melbourne. Born and raised in Melbourne, Joseph started his musical journey at the ripe age of 16 as a self-taught pianist. Joseph went on to undertake a Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne, specialising in Piano Performance in the guidance of concert pianist Janine Sowden. Aside from piano, Joseph has sung with various choirs such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Melbourne Bach Choir, Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, and other ensembles.
In his Honours degree in Music at the University of Melbourne, Joseph took an interest in conducting and began tutelage under Rick Prakhoff. From there Joseph broke into the conducting scene by conducting predominantly choirs, and other small ensembles. Eventually Joseph branched out into opera where he guest conducted La Boheme with BK Opera. More recently Joseph has made a move into orchestral conducting assisting the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra with the premiere of No Friend But the Mountains: A Symphonic Song Cycle Composed by Luke Styles. Currently Joseph is studying a Master of Music (Performance Studies) with a focus on conducting. Through the Master degree Joseph has gained invaluable experiences conducting amateur and professional orchestras, as well as ensembles with varying instrumentation and size. This includes the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra.
OUR NEXT CONCERT
On Sunday 7 December 2025 at 4pm, we will perform Handel's Messiah with choir, soloists and orchestra in collaboration with The Geelong Chorale.
This performance will be conducted by Joseph Hie.
Check our Music page for details.
Would you like to sing with Windfire?
The Windfire Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings for 8 weeks prior to each of our concerts. If you would like to sing with us, please contact Jane on 0447 238 432.
If you are a keen singer and aged between 16 and 27 please consider applying for a Windfire Choral Scholarship