The Heidelberg Choral Society was formed in 1920

Currently, the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Society is Matthew Toogood.

HCS performs classical sacred and secular choral works, as well as part songs, oratorios, operas and madrigals. Depending on music and available resources, the choir sings both accompanied (piano, organ, orchestra) and unaccompanied.

Heidelberg Choral Society is available for hire.

There are three major concerts each year, scheduled for April/May, August (usually part of the Banyule Winter Arts Festival) and November/December.

Professional soloists accompany the choir for most concerts.

In 2008, HCS in conjunction with the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Matthew Toogood, also undertook an inaugural interstate tour to perform The Messiah in regional Victoria and South Australia. By popular demand, the choir repeated this tour in 2009 with well attended performances in Ballarat, Colac, Warranambool, Mt Gambier and Naracoorte.

In addition, HCS is available year round for hour-long performances of a capella European sacred music. These performances serve as a mutual fundraising venture for HCS and parishes throughout Victoria. Enquiries : mvandemeene@yahoo.com

The choir consists of soprano, alto, tenor and bass and currently totals approximately 90 members.

Rehearsals are held Monday nights during school terms (starting 1st Mon in Feb) at 7.30 for a 7.45 start, finishing at 10.15pm. The venue for rehearsals is St George's Church Hall, Warncliffe Road, East Ivanhoe, 3079.

Artistic director and conductor, Matthew Toogood, recently completed a Masters of Music at the University of Melbourne, specialising in Conducting with Professor John Hopkins OBE.  Accompanist, Charlie Sdraulig is an Ivanhoe resident and composer, commissioned to produce a work for performance by HCS in August 2007.