George Hogg tribute: Friends, family remember Ipswich Orpheus Chorale founder

George Hogg founded the city’s iconic Ipswich Orpheus Chorale more than 60 years ago and had an immense impact on the state’s cultural sector. He is being mourned by family, friends and the wider Queensland music community.

George Hogg OAM passed away on October 3. The Ipswich Orpheus Chorale founder pictured in 2019.

A “giant” of the Queensland music scene who laid the foundations for generations of singers in Ipswich is being remembered for his immense contribution to the city.

George Hogg OAM passed away at the age of 86 on October 3.

He founded the city’s iconic Ipswich Orpheus Chorale in 1969 and served as conductor and musical director for 30 years.

The auditorium in the Ipswich Civic Centre, which he managed for more than 20 years, is named after George.

The legacy of the Eisteddfod Council of Queensland life member and former president of many years will live on in the many musicians he inspired to reach for greatness, and he will remain as a fixture of Ipswich’s main stage.

The city’s auditorium in the Ipswich Civic Centre is named after him, as is the chorale’s headquarters in East Ipswich.

The accountant was in charge of the civic centre for more than 20 years, improving the quality and quantity of live acts coming into Ipswich to turn it into the premier cultural destination as it stands today.

It is hard to pick out a figure who played a more important role in cultivating talent and promoting live musical performance in Ipswich as George, who worked as a singing teacher for decades.

He first competed in the then Ipswich Juvenile Eisteddfod in 1947 at the age of 11, winning first prize.

He had vocal training at the Queensland Conservatorium and gained AMusA and LMusA qualifications in singing.

During his active singing career he was an ABC recitalist and soloist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland State and Municipal Choir and the Australian Army Band Brisbane.

George won 34 championships and 22 Champion of Champions awards over the years in the annual Queensland Eisteddfod, while also achieving great success as a soloist in Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT.

Tom Keenan with his vocal coach George Hogg in 2015.

He was the first musical director in Queensland Eisteddfod history to lead a choir to win all eight of the senior choral sections at the one competition.

George was named ‘The Ipswich Advertiser’ Australia Day Citizen of the Year in 1984 and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1992 for his services to music.

It was a passion passed on to his family, with many becoming members of his choir.

Current Ipswich Orpheus Chorale conductor Robert Shearer said the only thing George loved more than music was his family.

He met him when he was in Year 6 while competing at his first ever Eisteddfod.

“He was adjudicating,” Mr Shearer said.

“He always had a kind word to say about a musician but also point out how they could improve.

“That was the one thing I did take from him early on; never be complacent with how you sing.”

Mr Shearer took over as conductor of the chorale a year ago and although George had taken a step back, he was there to provide advice and ideas to ease the transition.

“Without him there would be no Orpheus Chorale,” he said.

“The man was as much of the bricks and mortar of the place as the building. He’s never truly been away from the place.”

A small private service was held on Monday.

George will be sorely missed by family, friends and the wider Queensland music community.

Mr Shearer said George’s loss seemed to sink in for members of the choir at rehearsal a day after he died.

“There was a great outpouring of emotion,” he said.

“When we got to the last song of the evening, it was one of the standards we do and have done since the earliest days. Most of the choir broke down.

“I think it hit us at that point he was no longer around. It rocked most of Queensland music when he passed.

“It’s been under his watchful eye that a lot of the Queensland Eisteddfod was able to keep growing while holding up the best of the Welsh traditions.

“It’s a movement that continued into the 21st century when many eisteddfods have disappeared across the nation. It was very much down to his direction and his leadership. Many of his students went on to have very illustrious careers and follow music as a pathway.

“That’s one of the big things he gave to the Queensland community; a sense that singing was an option and music wasn’t just something you did for fun.”

George retired as director of the Ipswich Orpheus Chorale in 1999 but returned for a two-year stint in 2010.

Aside from his talent, guidance and kind nature, his quick wit and humour as part of the choir will be sorely missed.

But always a couple of steps ahead, his jokes would serve as more than just comic relief.

“He always approached singing very sensibly but he wouldn’t do it in a sensible way necessarily,” he said.

“I can remember when I was a very young tenor, all the blokes up the back would be learning the notes and when a passage came up where none of it made sense, he’d tell some dad jokes and the entire group would be roaring with laughter.

“It was a way to liven the mood so you’d forget it was a difficult passage.

“He could as a teacher and a communicator of music find a way to get you out of yourself to understand how to do the job that was put before you.

“He brought so much music to town, so much of it. He really was a giant of the musical community.

“There were very few people in this day and age who had the impact on one aspect of one community quite so much as George had.”

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding paid tribute to George and said the impact the “outstanding talent” had had on the local community could not be overstated.

“His passing is a sad loss for Ipswich,” she said.

“Few people have made a greater lifelong contribution to the Ipswich arts community.

“He once said ‘it’s an emotional experience to perform and that feeling of performing on stage and singing, it never leaves you. Your voice may deteriorate over the years, but the feeling it gives you never changes’.

“I last spoke with George at the Best of the British concert which was part of the Spark Festival (in July).

“He was excited with the Ipswich Orpheus Chorale joining forces with Camerata Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra as the highlight of the night.

“On behalf of the city, I want to extend my deepest sympathy to his family.

“He will be greatly missed by the Ipswich community.”

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as George Hogg tribute: Friends, family remember Ipswich Orpheus Chorale founder