Victoria Ely began her career in her native Australia, working in Arts Management. Upon realising her true passion lay in choral conducting she made the brave move to relocate to the UK to undertake an MMus in Choral Conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Focusing on her development as a conductor, Victoria has dedicated herself to embracing every opportunity and establishing an extensive professional network in the UK and beyond. Alongside her studies she undertook a variety of roles and enhanced her learning by observing rehearsals of the UK’s leading ensembles, including the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Chorus, The Sixteen and masterclasses provided by the Association of British Choral Directors which Victoria also participated in.
Victoria gained experience through singing for internationally respected conductors such as Thomas Hengelbrock, Ryan Wigglesworth and with The Joyful Company of Singers as they recorded the soundtrack to the film ‘The Silent Storm’. In 2013 she was selected as Assistant Conductor at the Worcester International Festival for Young Singers. It was her first exposure to the diversity of choral traditions within continental Europe, an inspiring experience which heightened her interest in the study of, and experimentation with, different traditions they have to offer. She hopes to develop and study these diverse approaches and has been invited to appear at the Europa Cantat Festival next year.
In 2014 Victoria was appointed to the position of Chorus Director with the Cumbria Rural Choirs. In 2015 she took up positions as Musical Director for Milton Keynes Chorale and Assistant Conductor/Producer for the Voces Academy, an emerging professional chamber choir and conductor development programme focused on providing high-level training to young, talented conductors and singers entering the profession.