Adelaide Chamber Singers

Adelaide Chamber Singers (ACS) is widely respected as Australia’s finest chamber choir – the embodiment of the art of choral chamber singing. Founded in 1985 by Dr Carl Crossin OAM, ACS has been a passionate and innovative contributor to music-making for almost 40 years. In 2022, Carl passed the role of Artistic Director and Conductor to long-time ACS singer and Associate Conductor, Christie Anderson. The ensemble’s membership is drawn from amongst Adelaide’s best and most experienced ensemble singers, many of whom are also conductors, soloists, teachers and independent artists.

Since the beginning, ACS has existed to showcase the highest order of musical interpretation, to transport our audiences to new heights, and to challenge the very boundaries of what choral music can be. Our combined voices echo the majesty of the great cathedrals and concert halls of the world, but our sound and our soul is proudly grounded in the intimacy and warmth of our home city of Adelaide.

Honoured with an Arts South Australia Ruby Award in 2011 for “sustained contribution by an organisation”, and a 2022 Ruby Award for the world premiere season of Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan at the Adelaide Festival, ACS’ eight international tours have also garnered international accolades including “Choir of the World at Llangollen 2013” at the Welsh International Musical Eisteddfod. ACS is frequently invited to support and collaborate with a wide range of artists including The Rolling Stones, VOCES8, The Tallis Scholars, Kronos Quartet, Hilltop Hoods, Greta Bradman, and Katie Noonan. A strong and consistent advocate for Australian music, ACS has proudly commissioned over 30 new works from established and emerging composers.

Recent achievements include the 2022 launch of Rising Voices (previously known as ACS²) – a high-level training ensemble conducted by both Christie and Carl, with mentors from the core ensemble. 2023 saw ACS work with the incredible British ensemble, The Gesualdo Six, as part of the UKARIA A Cappella Academy, as well as their critically-acclaimed performances of Celestial at the Adelaide Festival, and Behold the Wonder at Dark Mofo in Hobart. In October 2023, ACS hosted the inaugural Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival to tremendous success, cementing Adelaide’s place as “the choral capital of Australia” (InReview).