
Cantique
Vocal Octet
Cantique is a Melbourne-based vocal octet bringing together some of the Australia’s finest young singers. United by a shared commitment to artistry and expression, the ensemble creates immersive choral experiences defined by seamless blend and emotional depth.
Cantique’s singers are accomplished artists in their own right, having toured and performed extensively in concert halls both nationally and internationally alongside eminent conductors and ensembles. With repertoire spanning Renaissance polyphony to larger orchestral works, Cantique is known for its clear and captivating performances through eight voices.

Samantha Anderson-Mayes
Samantha Anderson-Mayes earned her Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Western Australia in 2024, winning the Edith Cowan Prize for top performing undergraduate student. Her Honours thesis explored how the combination of singing and social activity can enhance feelings of social connectedness among members of rehabilitative choirs. Samantha was a runner up in the 2023 ISC Early Music Competition and has performed opera and oratorio with Breaksea, Opus WA, WA Opera, and Victorian Opera. In 2025 she completed a Graduate Diploma of Opera at the University of Melbourne and was chosen as an Emerging Artist with the Song Company. Samantha is now studying a Master of Clinical Audiology, but she continues to pursue music alongside this.

Paul McDonald
Paul has been singing in choirs since 2005 when he joined the Australian Boys Choir, in which he remained until 2010. From 2017 to 2020, Paul joined the internationally acclaimed Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, touring Australia, Europe and North America under the direction of Christopher Watson. Paul now holds the Bass choral scholar position at St John’s Anglican Church Camberwell, and regularly performs with many Melbourne-based professional ensembles including The Consort of Melbourne and Polyphonic Voices. Outside of music, Paul divides his time between pursuing his professional goals as Business Manager & Company Secretary of the Melbourne Anglican Foundation, and spending time with his wife and two dogs.

Miro Lauritz
Miro Lauritz is a jazz pianist, vibraphonist, singer, arranger and award-winning composer in Melbourne, Australia. Miro has performed throughout the country as a solo vocalist with the Australian Boys Choir, Opera Australia and the Marriner Group. On both piano and vibraphone, Miro has recorded and performed as a sideman with several leading Melbourne-based artists including Paul Williamson, Sam Anning, Angela Davis, Jordan Murray, Helen Svoboda, Dylan van der Schyff, as well as international artists Jerome Jennings and Vince Gardner. As a composer and arranger, Miro has won the VCE Premier’s Award and Allan Zavod Performer’s award and has had his chamber pieces performed and recorded all around Melbourne. Miro can be seen regularly playing and singing in various musical outfits throughout Australia.

Mia Chenea Robinson
Award-winning soloist Mia Chenea Robinson has quickly become a recognised voice in the Australian classical music scene. At just 19, she made her soloist debut with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in the world premiere of Mary Finsterer’s Stabat Mater, later reprising the work with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in Perth - a performance that went on to win the 2024 APRA AMCOS Award for Performance of the Year: Notated Composition. Most recently, Mia toured China and Singapore as a soloist with the Choir of Trinity College and has also appeared as a soloist with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, and for ABC Classic 100 (2024).

Liam Graham
Liam Graham is a Melbourne-based baritone, trombonist, and physicist studying at The University of Melbourne. He first discovered his passion for singing as a young member of the Australian Boys Choir. After graduating from VCASS in 2023, Liam joined Trinity College Choir and was subsequently selected to join The Trin Singers. During his time with Trinity, Liam has collaborated with Genesis Baroque and Polyphonic Voices and has performed in venues across China and Australia. Liam spent 2025 as a Choral Scholar at Scots Church, and this year has accepted the Bass 1 position at St John's Camberwell, under the direction of Lachlan McDonald.

Jesika Clark
Jesika relishes any opportunity she has to perform, as a vocalist or instrumentalist. Appearances include Rossini’s William Tell (Victorian Opera), Dialogues des Carmélites (MCM), Paris: A Rock Odyssey (Music Theatre Melbourne) and the Victorian Premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (OsMAD). She has also performed in many prestigious events with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir- Andrea Boccelli’s Melbourne concert at Rod Laver Arena, the Melbourne ANZAC Day Dawn Service, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, The Melbourne Cup, The Prime Minister’s Olympic Gala and the Olivia Newton-John Charity Gala. Jesika’s freelance singing incorporates a vast array of styles: as a founding member of Chorus Ecclesiae specialising in Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony; as cantor for St Michael’s Uniting Church, Melbourne; pit singer for Chess (OSMaD) and at corporate functions and celebratory events including carolling at Christmas.

Eliza Bennetts O’Connor
Eliza Bennetts O’Connor is a Melbourne-based soprano, praised for her “sweet and delicate tone.” She has worked with some of Victoria’s leading companies across concert, opera, chamber, and early music repertoire. Recent highlights include being named a finalist in the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Aria Competition and the National Liederfest Competition in 2025. That same year, she performed with The Consort of Melbourne at the Melbourne International Film Festival in live performances of Joan of Arc and Silencio, sang the soprano solos in Missa Sancti Nicolai (Haydn), undertook recording projects with Cantillation, and contributed to the research project Bel Canto Rediscovered alongside Neal Peres Da Costa and Anna Fraser and performed at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival. She has also appeared as a returning soloist for the Stonnington Classics, Opera in the Park performances in 2024 and 2026. Other recent performance highlights include soprano soloist appearances in Rejoice in the Lamb (Britten) and Gloria (Vivaldi).

Anish Nair
Anish Nair’s love for music began as a chorister with the Australian Boys Choir, whilst studying piano and later tuba/jazz trombone. After his 1st of six seasons with the National Youth Choir of Australia, he further dove into the choral scene and is currently a freelance singer/choral event planner having regularly performed and internationally toured with countless amateur and professional choirs, artists and conductors. He is a founding member and manager of Fiore Chamber who have toured and commissioned over 12 works from 9 Australian composers and has found a passion for guiding the next generation through managing the National Youth Choir of Australia in addition to his work as a high school math and science teacher.