The Oaks Chamber Singers

T he Oaks Chamber Singers, founded in 1996 by Annette and Charles Murphy, performed its final concert on May 21, 2011, capping off 15 years and over 45 concerts featuring splendid, seldom-heard Renaissance and early Baroque music. Our thanks go to the thousands of supporters over the years, and to the dedicated singers who sang for them.

This website will serve as an archive for the 15 years history of The Oaks Chamber Singers. Changes to the website will be completed in late September. The former members of the Oaks Chamber Singers are in the process of planning a new group. A link will be made available once a website is available.

Excellence in the Arts

The Oaks Chamber Singers, under the direction of Annette Murphy, were awarded a 2006 Excellence in the Arts award by the Thousand Oaks Arts Commission.
Recent praise | Concert Schedule

Recent News

Saturday, May 21, 2011

We celebrated the close of our 15th anniversary with a trip to the city of lights on May 21st. In a small Parisian cafe in the Montmatre, we were joined by close friends who have shared their love of music with us for many years.

What a way to end our celebration --- the audience sitting at tables in cabaret style, sipping French wine, enjoying one another's company, listening as the Oaks Chamber Singers performed famous French ballads. Once again, we were pleased to see the audience rise to their feet in acclamation!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

What a response to our Neapolitan Intermezzo. Tables were full, and last minute guests were willing to forgo tables, wine, and cheese to listen from impromptu seating assembled around the circumference of the room.

Between the familiar and famous Italian love songs and arias sung so beautifully by our soloists and ensemble singers, one could hear the humming and sighs of appreciation from the audience. Our third standing ovation of the season! Who could ask for anything more?

Thank you, our loyal audience. We look forward to singing for you next season!

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 will be a night that will go down in musical history when the Oaks Chamber Singers present "Lost is my Quiet" in St. Patrick's Hall, Thousand Oaks.

The ensemble comes together with a concert of Bourree for Bach, Madrigals and humorous selections of Purcell, Brahms and Shakespearean songs. Highlighting the most successful season of Rutter, Vivaldi and Pergolesi, we now turn to our capricious nature to perform whimsical music composed by these men not commonly recognized as having such senses of humor.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

To a standing room only audience, the Oaks Chamber Singers performed the Mass of the Children by John Rutter - a premiere performance of this work in the Conejo Valley. The award winning Los Robles Children's Choir, Donna Young, Artistic Director, the Royal Oaks Chamber Orchestra and soloists Susan Frye, soprano, Steve Johnson, baritone, with the chamber singers, brought to life this extraordinarily complex composition, combining movements of the Missa Brevis Mass and English Hymns, many times interweaving children's voices, soloists, chorus and orchestra. As director Annette Murphy stepped down to acknowledge the performers, she was met with a hall ringing with bravos from the standing audience. The next concert will be March 15th at St. John's Seminary Chapel, Camarillo and will consist of early Renaissance baroque music of Pergolesi and Victoria.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Would you like to support the Oaks Chamber Singers? We gratefully accept donations because your generosity allows us to keep our ticket prices at an affordable price. This enables the general public to enjoy our unusual music. We are the only small, permanent, chamber ensemble in the area. For donation information, contact us.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

To other chamber ensembles: Thru our 10 years we have built up a considerable orchestral library which we would be willing to rent to other groups. We have Messiah, Vivaldi's Gloria, Charpentier's Messe de Minuit pour Noel, and many others including Gilbert and Sullivan.

Welcome

to the official Oaks Chamber Singers web site where you can read recent news, find upcoming concerts, and learn about our group. Use the textual links above to navigate our site. Enjoy!

Annette Murphy, director and founder

TO MUSIC!
O gracious art, how many grey hours, when life's fierce orbit encompassed me, hast thou kindled my heart to warm love, hast thou charmed me into a better world. Oft as a sigh coming from my heart, a sweet blessed chord of thine thrown open the heaven of better times. O gracious art, for that I thank thee.

-An Die Musik, Franz Schubert

History

Founded in 1996, The Oaks Chamber Singers dedicates itself to spreading the joy and appreciation of fine vocal ensemble music. Twenty seven talented musicians share both the love of music and acommitment to quality performance.

Specializing in a cappella Renaissance, Baroque and parlour music, the Chamber Singers' performances have included both sacred and secular programs. Repertory includes, Charpentier, MESSE DE MINUIT POUR NOEL; William Byrd, MASS FOR FIVE VOICES; Palestrina, Victtoria, and other Renaissance early Motets; Vivaldi, GLORIA and Arias for tenor, bass; Buxtehude, MAGNIFICAT, and his solo Cantatas; Handel MESSIAH; Brahms, Liebeslieder Waltzes opus 52 and folksongs; Monteverdi, MAGNIFICAT from 1610 Vespers; concert presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan's PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and H.M.S. PINAFORE; MADRIGALS, music of Purcell, and others.

All financial support for the chamber singers comes from its audiences and through the generosity of community organizations like The Alliance for the Arts, the City of Thousand Oaks, the wonderful Scherr Forum Theatre, which lends itself to chamber performances, and many others. The singers are not paid. We make every effort to keep our ticket prices at a level that opens our doors to the general public, students and seniors.