Choirs are listed alphabetically. Select any choir to jump to their entry:
Academy Singers; AChoired Sound; Adult Glee Club; Alfresco Jubilo; Andalus Arabic Choir; Aqualuna; Argyle Singers; Aurora Australis Chorus; Aurora Choralis; Beating Time; Blue Mountains Community Choir Katoomba; Bulgamada; Byrd Consort; Canada Bay Community Choir; Cantar Community Choir; CORO AUSTRAL; Crowd Around; Daylight Choir; DElites; Eclectica; Endeavour Harmony Chorus; Evergreen Music (The Wednesday Singers); Glee Bees Community Choir; Glenbrook Community Choir; Jubila Singers; Kooskõlas; Linnet Singers of Sydney; Lithgow Community Choir; Loco Voco; Lyrebyrd; Macquarie Chapel Presbyterian Church Choir; Martenitsa Choir; Moo Choir; MUDLARKS; New Day Choir; Pacopezants; Penrith Harmony; Phoenix Chamber Choir; Phoenix Choir; Purple Moon; River City Voices; Riverland Harmony Chorus; ROH Ensemble Choir; Swing Out Mama; Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir; Sydney Jewish Choral Society; Sydney Trade Union Choir; The Allegri Singers; The Choir Central Singers; The Heathens; Urban Voices; Vocal Edge; Vocalocity; Voice Male; VOILÀ!
Academy Singers
Directed by Paul Terracini
Classical
www.academysingers.com.au
Academy Singers is a Blue Mountains chamber choir offering residents and visitors regular concerts of choral and other chamber music throughout the year at various mountains venues. We host an annual community workshop and participate in large scale works with Penrith Symphony Orchestra and other local choirs. We rehearse on Thursday Tuesday evenings at Wentworth Falls and interested singers are welcome to attend a free trial rehearsal. For further information about coming events or contact details, go to our website or find us on Facebook.
Acquired Sound
Directed by Paul Haire
60’s to 90’s Rock and Pop and Broadway music
AChoired Sound, in its 20th anniversary year, was established under the guidance of professional musician Paul Haire, a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium and an experienced teacher/performer. After a 1999 Opera House school concert at which parents, teachers and students were formed into a massed choir, some of the dads got such a buzz out of the experience that we formed our own Men’s choir in 2000. About 20 fathers, and their friends, of past and current students of St Aloysius’ College make up the choir. We have performed at the Opera House (2004), weddings, nursing homes, parties, fund raisers, school carol nights and events, church services, World Youth Day Concert, businessmen dinners, a Homeless people dinner and Blackheath Choir Festivals in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018. We sang songs of the WW1 era during the end credits of two episodes of Channel 9’s “Gallipoli” Mini Series plus sang at the ABC radio’s “Sing Out Sydney” in 2019. We also sang at a 2017 book launch in front of the NSW Premier and at a 2019 Anzac Day lunch for the 2/20th Battalion. After many recording sessions, our album is due for release very soon. We sing everything from Gershwin, Beatles, Eagles through to Coldplay.
Adult Glee Club
Directed by Henrick
www.adultgleeclub.com.au
Description to come
Alfresco Jubilo
Directed by Georgina Spilsbury
Original compositions and classical
www.gm-u3a.com.au
Alfresco Jubilo is an a capella ensemble of U3A Goulburn-Mulwaree, formed in 2014. The group enjoys singing part-songs from medieval to modern.
Andalus Arabic Choir
Directed by Dr Noel Elmowy
Arabic traditional and Andalusian
www.gm-u3a.com.au
andalusarabicchoir.com; facebook.com/andalusarabicchoir
We are a group of Arabic and Non-Arabic speaking Australians who share the love of Arabic music and singing. The Andalus Arabic Choir reflects the vibrant, creative, multicultural and tolerant era of Andalucia. We sing Arabic and Andalusian songs in dialects from Andalucia to the Middle-East and North Africa. We include many genres of Arabic music: Andalusian, traditional, folk, qudud, tarab, shaabi and original.
Aqualuna
Directed by Philip Eames
Popular
facebook.com/acqualuna
Aqualuna is an inclusive, unauditioned SATB choir that are based in Longueville, Sydney. Primarily a cappella, the choir is built around a common love of singing and directed by Dr Philip Eames. Aqualuna is now in its fifteenth year, singing a diverse repertoire ranging from classical to popular styles, and everything in between.
Argyle Singers
Directed by Georgina Spilsbury
Original compositions, gospel and folk
www.gm-u3a.com.au
Argyle Singers is an a open choir of U3A Goulburn-Mulwaree, formed in 2017. This is the first time the group has performed in Blackheath.
Aurora Australis Chorus
Directed by Karen Ramirez
Polular
www.auroraaustralis.org.au
Aurora Australis is a group of friendly and supportive women who love to sing and perform. We are a women’s four-part harmony a cappella chorus that meets every Thursday in Concord, Sydney. We like to say we came for the music and stayed for the friendship! At our weekly rehearsals, our two talented Musical Directors, Sue and Karen, instruct us in correct harmony singing technique as we learn to sing and perform a wide range of special four-part a cappella arrangements – from popular and classic hits to barbershop and contemporary ballads, as well as Australian songs and Christmas carols and songs. We enjoy performing at private functions and public events, including Citizenship Ceremonies for the City of Canada Bay. We regularly compete in local eisteddfods and on the national stage at the annual Sweet Adelines Australia Convention. Around Christmas you will find us singing carols at local shopping centres or on the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral. Aurora Australis is part of Sweet Adelines Australia, and is one of 31 choruses from across the country. Sweet Adelines is a non-profit music association for women, which focuses on educating its 20,000 members world-wide in the art of a cappella four-part harmony, barbershop style.
Aurora Choralis
Directed by Robb Dennis
classical, contemporary, Australian
www.aurorachoralis.com.au
Aurora Choralis is a Sydney-based chamber choir founded in 2017 and comprised of members from diverse backgrounds and professions, all with a shared passion for musical excellence. The group’s sound is rich and crystalline and inspired by the great choral traditions of North America and Northern Europe. The group sings a combination of modern choral art song, early music and vocal jazz.
Beating Time
Directed by Margo McLaughlin
Popular, indigenous and other ethnic and semi-classical
Link to Facebook
Beating Time, an unauditioned choir of seniors, has been rehearsing and performing at the Dougherty Community Centre, Chatswood, for over 20 years, originally under the name of Sydney U3A choir. We have regularly performed in nursing homes and retirement villages and have taken part in festivals such as the Blackeath Choir Festival in 2016 and 18 and the North Shore Community of Choirs Festival in February, 2020, just before we had to go into lockdown because of the Covid 19 pandemic. We continued rehearsing via zoom during the year and a delighted to be back singing together again. Under the leadership of our Director of Music, Margot McLaughlin, we have developed a wide repertoire, including songs in languages such as French, Italian, Spanish, African and indigenous Australian as well as popular and choral music. We are always happy to welcome new members who love to sing.
Blue Mountains Community Choir Katoomba
Directed by Sue Capper & Rowen Fox
Popular
Link to Facebook
The newest choir in the Blue Mountains! Local conductors, Sue Capper and Rowen Fox, lead this fun & friendly group. We rehearse Thursday evenings during school terms, 7pm-8.45pm at Katoomba High School. No auditions required, All welcome!
Bulgamada
Byrd Consort
Directed by Anthony Pasquill
Polyphony
Specializing in Renaissance polyphony, the Byrd Consort is made up of singers from Australia and the UK. Several live locally in the Blue Mountains. The consort’s conductor, James Dixon, left Sydney to study choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music eight years ago. He remains in London and now conducts four choirs there. Together James and Blue Mountains resident Claire Cook, with whom he has formed a musical partnership, organize for the group to participate in workshops and performances in historical churches in England and France, Australia and Singapore. Often the churches pre-date the music sung by the consort. Many of the consort’s members sing in other choirs when not on tour. For more information, Claire Cook 0418843751.
Canada Bay Community Choir
Directed by Kathryn Zerk
Modern , Australian & other cultural
cbcch.com.au
Canada Bay Community Choir is a non audition choir comprising an enthusiastic group of community members who love to sing learn & make music. We are based in Drummoyne in Inner West Sydney. All people are welcome and we are very inclusive.
Cantar Community Choir
Directed by Gabe Rae
Mixed bag
facebook.com/cantarcommunitychoir/
Cantar, Spanish for Sing, is what we love to do. Based in Orange NSW, our repertoire is varied and includes a mix of a capella and accompanied works. We find great joy and friendship through making music together.
CORO AUSTRAL
Directed by Margo McLaughlin
Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American, mainstream classical
www.coroaustral.org; facebook.com/CoroAustral/
Coro Austral was established by Artistic Director Margot McLaughlin in 2010 as a Sydney-based auditioned chamber specialising in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American music. Its current repertoire ranges across all the well-known “Western mainstream classical” forms from the 13th century to the present, including Latin American Baroque, as well as music from other traditions such as Catalan and Basque, choral tango, Andean folkloric, Sephardic, contemporary Chilean, and arrangements of classic Cuban songs. In 2017 Coro Austral undertook a performance tour through Cuba which included workshops with professional choirs as well as dance and percussion workshops, culminating in participation in the International Festival of Choirs – Santiago De Cuba, one of the longest standing and most prestigious events in the international choral calendar. As well as presenting regular concerts, Coro Austral has performed as a guest choir at Australian Jewish Choral Festivals and has been a regular participant in Blackheath Choir Festivals – in fact our very first public performance was at this Festival in 2010! It has also participated in Advent and Easter services at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rozelle. We are always on the lookout for experienced choral musicians to audition as permanent or casual singers. Ability to speak Spanish is not required, as language coaching is provided, but prospective members should enjoy exploring new repertoire, languages and cultures.
Crowd Around
Directed by Kate Swadling
Mixed unaccompanied singing from a popular vocal style
facebook.com/crowdaround.choir
Crowd Around choir have been singing and performing in the Blue Mountains for the last 25 years. All songs are arranged for four parts in acappella style. Drawing on the traditions of South African and African-American acappella singing they also perform much loved secular songs. They have been under the musical direction of Kate Swadling for the last 23 years. They have earnt themselves a reputation of high standards of performance with interesting and entertaining repertoire. Covid forced them to reconsider crowding around in song but the name and will to sing has survived.
Daylight Choir
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Jocelyn Moen
Contemporary
www.jocemoen.com/
Daylight was founded by trail-blazer Rachel Hore (OAM), more years ago than we care to admit. Singers in Daylight share a camaraderie and musical uplift that nourishes the mind, body and spirit. A broad cross-section of our community ranging from the age of 2 to 80-something, Daylight breathes new life into classics from the international folk & pop canon, as well as singing up new sounds in the original works of Rachel Hore, Stephen Taberner and Jocelyn Moen – Daylight’s new leader. Moen brings her experience of international performing, conducting and songwriting to uphold the high social and musical calibre that has always made Daylight shine.
DElites
Directed by Darryl Roberts
Baby Boomers will know all of our songs
facebook.com/delitesacapella/
The DElites are a collection of dedicated singers that formed from an event staged by choirs from the Dural, and Epping areas, hence the DE-lites. We sing adult rock and pop and simply love to entertain our audience. Our focus is all about giving our all and handing out love to all that will listen. Our preferred venue is a pub.
Eclectica
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Tracy Callinan
Culture specfic, pop and possible political
facebook.com/delitesacapella/
Eclectica, formerly known as Sounds Live Choir, was established in Bathurst in 2010 under the direction of Tracey Callinan. As the name suggests, the choir performs an eclectic mix covering songs from many different parts of the world, and perfomrs in styles extending through pop, gospel and early music . The choir’s repertoire is mostly acapella. In addition to performing often at community event, the choir has also featured at many festivals including the National Folk Festival, and has particpated in numerous collaborations with musicians diverse as Jessie Lloyd and the Mission Song project, Michelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, Medleko Meropa from South Africa and Welsh Storytellers presented by UK organisation Adverse Camber. They have done experimental projects with Cementa Festival in Kandos (with Super Critical Mass), sung operatic choruses with the NSW Regional Conservatoriums Orchestra and continue to find new and different challenges.
Endeavour Harmony Chorus
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Lea Baker
Barbershop
www.endeavourharmony.com
Endeavour Harmony Chorus has become well known as Australia’s premier female a cappella ensemble. With more than 80 singers they have won national accolades including the Australasian Choral Grand Prix in 2016 and 2017. In 2019 Endeavour Harmony was the featured choir at the ABC’s Sing Out Sydney at the Recital Hall in Sydney. The Chorus has been a finalist in the ABC Classic FM Radio Choir of the Year and have taken out first place in the National Sweet Adelines Competition at their last five attempts. The Chorus performs regularly around Sydney with a repertoire that includes a variety of songs from contemporary, Australian classics and all time popular songs. Endeavour Harmony rehearses each Tuesday night in Jannali in Sydney with their founder Lea Baker providing vocal instruction in a fun and supportive environment.
Evergreen Music (The Wednesday Singers)
Directed by Ben Marshall
Popular music spanning across several decades
www.evergreenmusic.com.au/
Evergreen Music is a northern beaches music community based in Brookvale. From teaching toddlers to pensioners, running weekly choirs and jam nights, music for people with disabilities, giant pub singalongs and school holiday music workshops, Evergreen look for any opportunity to spread the joy of music in the community. Every Wednesday night a group of people come together for a casual mid-week sing (which results in a great sound!). The Evergreen ‘Wednesday Singers’ are not a performing ensemble, however they loved their first gig at Blackheath Choir Festival 2018. They are certainly ready to sing for Blackheath again this year!
Glee Bees Community Choir
Directed by Peter Varley
Popular music spanning across several decades
facebook.com/GleeBeesCommunityChoir
The Glee Bees are a fun, social and inclusive group of people from Sydney’s Inner West and beyond, who love to make beautiful a cappella music together. We meet during school terms on Wednesday evening somewhere near Glebe in Sydney’s Inner West
Glenbrook Community Choir
Directed by Kate Swadling
Mixed folk, African, popular
Contact Lizzie on 0421 997 561
Glenbrook Community Choir are an enthusiastic local group (with a catchy name) who have been meeting for around 12 years now. Repertoire is mixed but with a popular bent, SATB a cappella or with piano, and no audition is required. This is truly a community group in the sense that these people look after and look out for each other with love and flowers.
Jubila Singers
Directed by Jane Becktel
World polyphonic a cappella music
jubilasingers.com.au
Jubila Singers sing vibrant music from cultures which have a strong harmonic tradition. We sing in many different languages and primarily a cappella.We also sing some music from the Western classic tradition and songs from the African American gospel/spiritual repertoire. We are in our ninth year. Our repertoire includes beautiful lush chorales from Russia as well as gorgeous pieces from Mozart and contemporary composers. We also sing some unusual Appalachian gospel, delightfully ear-bending Czech folk-songs and riveting music from Georgia. We are a non-religious group although many of the songs from Africa and southern USA are inherently religious in nature. We number about 50 and the choir is currently at capacity.
Kooskõlas
Directed by Naomi Cooper
Classical – Estonian choral music
Estonia is known for regaining its independence through the “Singing Revolution”, inspired by the tradition of the Song Festival “Laulupidu” held every 5 years in Tallinn. The Kooskõlas Choir (“together in song”) was formed comprising of Estonian and non-Estonian Australian citizens residing in NSW auditioned and was accepted to perform at Laulupidu 2014 amongst the massed choir of over 35,000 singers performing before an audience of more than 100,000 people. In 2019 and the Kooskõlas Choir successfully undertook the ambitious project of taking another choir comprising singers from around Australia (NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, ACT) to perform at Laulupidu. The Estonian Song Festival (“Laulupidu”) is a unique cultural event, which every five years brings together choirs from around Estonia and the world for a celebration over several days in July. More than just an internationally-recognised choral event, Laulupidu has become a key anchor of Estonian identity and symbol of independence which has recently celebrated its 100th Anniversary. In the 19th century this celebration was at the core of the Estonians’ national awakening. Their singing traditions helped enforce their language and cultural heritage. It would inspire their fight for independence in 1918. During more than 50 years of Soviet occupation after World War Two the song celebration helped keep the Estonians’ national spirit alive. In 1988, in a show of solidarity against their occupiers, several hundred-thousand people gathered at the Tallinn Song Festival grounds and sang songs of freedom for many days and nights. There would be many more. This spirited defiance would become known as the “Singing Revolution” as it helped end Soviet rule of the country, allowing Estonia to regain its cherished independence in 1991.
Linnet Singers of Sydney
Directed by Olga Johnstone
Classical Jazz
to come
Lithgow Community Choir
Directed by Rowen Fox
Popular
Link to Facebook
Lithgow Community Choir is an all-inclusive, fun non-auditioned community choir singing a range of popular and folk music under the direction of Rowen Fox. The choir rehearses every Wednesday during school terms from 7-8.30pm in the Hoskins Uniting Church parish centre, Lithgow.
Loco Voco
Directed by Barb Shearer-Jones
An eclectic mix including contemporary, popular, jazz/blues.
Loco Voco is a mixed a capella group. Put together a small group of people who enjoy singing and harmonizing, and you have Loco Voco. We enjoy singing a diverse range of music, including contemporary, world music, jazz and Afro-American gospel. Our love of singing is communicated through this variety, as well as finely tuned harmonies, vocal blending, diverse arrangements, and an accessible presentation. We sang at Blackheath in 2019 as Loco Femme [hence the photo. Ed.], our female line up, and are delighted to once again be singing as a mixed troupe, now joined by Con, our bass.
Lyrebyrd
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Claire Cook
Renaissance
Lyrebird is a small group of musical friends that came together during Covid times. We practice regularly when we are able to. We enjoy singing polyphony together, may it be religious or madrigals songs . We went to singapore together in 2019 with the BYrd Consort and most of us have travlled to Europe together for choral workshops and performances
Macquarie Chapel Presbyterian Church Choir
Directed by Chris Czerwinski
Classical
Macquarie Chapel’s choir page
Macquarie Chapel Choir is a strong and integral part of the spiritual life at Macquarie Chapel Presbyterian Church for over 40 years. The Choir is comprised of volunteer singers and is a regular part of worship; sings sacred anthems and leads the congregation in hymns in Sunday morning service and other occasional services throughout the year. Repertoire includes a broad range of music, from Renaissance motets, through choruses from Handel’s “Messiah”, Classical and Romantic works, to negro-spiritual, African and contemporary compositions including pop songs. In addition to its liturgical role, the choir is regularly heard in concerts; performed three times (2014, 2016, 2018) at Blackheath Choir Festival – and participated in the prestigious City of Ryde Eisteddfod, winning two First Prizes in choral categories. Macquarie Chapel Choir is a member of the Royal School of Church Music. Macquarie Chapel welcomes all interested in singing to join its choir. The choir provides its singers with a chance to develop their voices while contributing to a special tradition that dates back many decades. Current choir members come from different parts of the region and represent a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures and faiths. The Choir rehearses each Thursday evening from 7:30 to 9:30 and on Sunday morning. Much more about our conductor Krzysztof Czerwinski is available on our website.
Martenitsa Choir
Directed by Mara Kiek
Bulgarian Traditional & original works
maramusic.com.au
Martenitsa choir is modelled on Bulgaria’s famous female choirs, and over the past 30 years has become one of the most highly regarded and innovative choirs in Australia, and recognised in Bulgaria and across the world. Formed in 1990 by director Mara Kiek, Martenitsa’s repertoire was inspired by the folk song arrangements of Bulgarian maestro Philip Kutev, his contemporaries and successors that were made famous by choirs such as Le Mystère de Voix Bulgares. Martenitsa have performed in concert halls and festivals across Australia, UK, Italy and Bulgaria and recorded for radio, TV, feature and short films. They have supported and performed with legendary international ensembles (Trio Bulgarka and Balkana, WOMADelaide 1992 and Goran Bregovich, Sydney Opera House, 2008). Martenitsa have twice toured internationally with the Mara! band to perform their two ground-breaking collaborative suites – Sezoni (WOMAD Reading UK & Koprivshtitsa Festival Bulgaria in 2005) and Tra Parole e Silenzio (Tuscia Opera Festival & Infrasuoni Festival Italy in 2015). Other collaborations include albums with Clarion Fracture Zone (Canticle 1998) and David Hobson & David Hirschfelder ‘Inside this Room’ 1999). Martenitsa are currently working on a new album with the Mara! band, featuring all original music composed for the two ensembles.
Moo Choir
Directed by Suzanne Langford
Pop across the centuries from the Month of May to Adele
Link to Facebook
Based at Warrimoo in the lower Blue Mountains, Moo Choir is a community choir that sings a broad range of unaccompanied music. The program this year is “A Musical Time Machine”.
MUDLARKS
Directed by Alison Jones
Contemporary
Link to Facebook
Mudlarks are a group of women who have been singing together for over twenty years, in various configurations. In recent years their song selection has been thematic.
New Day Choir
Directed by Naomi Cooper
World music, folk, pop and contemporary choral compositions
The New Day Choir meets on Monday evenings in Wahroonga to share a love of singing and each other’s company. We sing a wide range of repertoire including folk songs from all around the world, popular songs and contemporary choral compositions.
Pacopezants
We don’t have a website. We are just a pack of peasants.
Pacopezants was established in Katoomba in 1986 . We sing songs from Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Romania, Romania, Romania.
Penrith Harmony
Directed by Peter Fragar
Barbershop
penrithharmony.com
Penrith Harmony comprises a spirited group of men working towards a common goal of musical excellence to thrill and charm audiences. The chorus attracts members from a range of ages, backgrounds and employment and provides them with new musical challenges regardless of their level of accomplishment. Penrith Harmony’s repertoire is wide and varied and includes both traditional and contemporary songs. Along with singing in contests, Penrith Harmony also performs for community and corporate events, fund raising shows and in concerts. We delight audiences with our diverse repertoire which is delivered with the passion and enjoyment experienced by each performer. Barbershop music is a unique style of a cappella 4-part harmony comprising the Lead who carries the melody, the Bass who sings the lowest harmonising note, the Baritone who completes the chord and the Tenor who harmonises above the melody. When all 4-parts in a quartet or chorus are in perfect balance, a “ringing” or overtone sound is produced. This “ring” is a joy to the singers and audience alike.
Phoenix Chamber Choir
Directed by Rowen Fox
Renaissance
phoenixchoir.org.au
Phoenix Chamber Choir are a small dedicated group of singers from Phoenix Choir who rehearse seperately with Rowen Fox as musical director to perform a capella music. In the past this has ranged from ancient to modern. We perform from 4 part SATB up to 8 parts as required by the music. For the Blackheath Choir Festival we will perform three a cappella renaissance works from Italy, Spain and Portugal in SSATB.
Phoenix Choir
Directed by Rowen Fox
Choruses from Rossini Stabat Mater/
phoenixchoir.org.au
Phoenix Choir is a classical music choral society based in Blackheath. We perform music from Renaissance to Romantic with occasional works from the 20th and 21st century especially choral compositions by our musical director Rowen Fox. Under Rowen’s direction the choir has grown to 70 members mainly from the upper Blue Mountains and Lithgow with some from further afield. We now take on major works in the classical canon, having recently performed Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Vivaldi Gloria and Mozart Requiem, with full orchestra. Under our “Sing in the Mountains” banner we organise come and sing events in the Blue Mountains and we are planning a winter 2021 performance of Handel’s Israel in Egypt as the next Sing in the Mountains event, for which bookings will open early in 2021. For the Blackheath Choir Festival we are performing choruses from Rossini’s Stabat Mater which is a dramatic operatic setting of this religious text.
Purple Moon
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Margi Coen
Folk – Pop
Purple Moon is a group of fun adults from all walks of life who just love to sing together, kayak, have coffee or a few wines ! Our repertoire is diverse, ranging from folk to jazz and classics to pop.
River City Voices
Directed by Sarah Penicka-Smith
Indigenous
rivercityvoices.org.au
River City Voices (RCV) is the new auditioned, semi-professional, 45-voice choir that aims to be Parramatta’s flagship choral company. It was formed in 2018 to meet the community’s desire for large-scale cultural events closer to home. Led by its exceptional Artistic Director Dr Sarah Penicka-Smith, the company’s vision is to become a permanent and relevant organisation, renowned for its vocal excellence, unexpected collaborative artistic programs, and events that reflect and engage its diverse community. In its brief history, RCV has engaged over 2,000 artists, creatives and community members through its public performances, development programs and workshops. Performances have included festivals, corporate and government gigs and collaborative community events, such as the Parramatta premiere of Carmina Burana, an interactive Japanese anime music program for the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival and a sold-out, performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at St Patrick’s Cathedral with singers from Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. RCV has also been broadcast on ABC Local Radio following its feature performance at ABC Radio’s annual Sing Out Sydney in 2019. Poised for further success in 2020, COVID-19 saw the company swiftly demonstrate a nimble, adaptive response that despite program cancellations, ensured its continued engagement of choristers, staff and community throughout 2020 through online zoom rehearsals, virtual choir and recording releases via YouTube. With support from a City of Parramatta Council Creative Economy grant, RCV released its first digital recording – Welded Voices – a collaborative COVID-proof project with Parramatta’s Information and Cultural Exchange’s Club Weld program. Plans are underway for Welded Voices’ premiere live performance at Bankwest Stadium in October.
Riverland Harmony Chorus
Directed by Nerryl Liston
Barbershop
Facebook.com/RiverlandHarmonyChorus/
ROH Ensemble Choir
Directed by Désirée Regina
Renaissance
rohaustralia.com
The charming ROH Ensemble Choir was one of the featured choirs at last years ABC Broadcasting “Sing out Sydney!” They perform at festivals and produce a theatre show once a year. The ROH Choir dresses up in the most beautiful Renaissance costumes that humble purses can buy and love creating a luscious palette for the ear and eye. This choir lets you experience the lively and gracious music of bygone times, infused with humour and theatrical elements. The ROH Choir is based in the Sutherland Shire, rehearses on Thursday nights, and welcomes every singer who is a secret minstrel at heart. (Photo Jennifer Wong)
Swing Out Mama
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Rob Maxwell-Jones
Popular
Swing Out Mama formed as an excuse for a girls’ night out for a group of mother’s at Rozelle Public School some time back in the early two thousand’s; Rob Maxwell-Jones has been attempting to interrupt the, ahem, vigorous conversation for long enough to teach a retro’ pop song or two of his own arrangement ever since.
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir
Directed by Adam Majsay
Popular
A potpourri of styles from opera to contemporary with a Jewish twist
sjchoral.org
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. We are a non-auditioned choir which welcomes members regardless of their sexual identity or musical experience. The choir is open to all – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intersex, queer and our straight allies. What unites us is a love of singing together and striving for performance excellence. A powerful symbol of diversity, inclusion and harmony, the choir has maintained a vital and visible presence in the history of Sydney’s LGBTQI community. Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir has provided the soundtrack to countless community events and celebrations over the years, and has regularly represented Sydney on the national and international stage. Our repertoire is equally diverse, ranging from classical to pop, and from music theatre to contemporary Australian compositions. With around 80 active singing members at any time, we usually present two major concerts each year, as well as performances at a wide range of community events, interstate and international festivals, collaborations with other artists, recordings and fun social events. Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir held its first ever performance in 1991, following a letter published in the Sydney Star Observer in November 1990 which called for community interest in forming a choir. Thirty years later we’re still going strong!
Sydney Jewish Choral Society
Directed by Rose Grausman
A potpourri of styles from opera to contemporary with a Jewish twist
sjchoral.org
Formed 35 years ago, the Sydney Jewish Choral Society has established itself on Sydney’s cultural scene, performing in a variety of venues including Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall, the Great Hall of Sydney University and the Clancy Auditorium at The University of New South Wales. Variety is in fact the key word for the Society. Its members come from a wide range of professions, countries and musical backgrounds. Its repertoire has been wide ranging too, taking in classical, opera, jewish liturgical and secular music. jazz and musicals, popular and folk music in many languages including Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew, But within the variety there is a common note.
Sydney Trade Union Choir
Directed by Deb Jones
Political
sydneytradeunionchoir.wordpress.com; Facebook
Sydney Trade Union Choir (STUC), formed in 1991, is an a capella choir that sings at union conferences and picket lines, May Day, IWD and other marches and rallies, folk festivals, markets, pubs, clubs, parties and even funerals – wherever people are interested in workers’ rights, social justice, liberation, democratic and human rights, peace and the environment. Our repertoire includes Australian and international songs of struggle – traditional and contemporary, moving and witty, but always with a political message. STUC is part of a network of union choirs across Australia. We also work closely with the Sydney-based Solidarity Choir. STUC is a non-auditioned choir and we welcome new members interested in singing our sort of songs. We believe that just about everyone can sing and you don’t have to be able to read music. For most of the year, we rehearse weekly on Tuesday evenings between 6 pm and 8.15pm at the NSW Teachers’ Federation in Mary St, Surry Hills. Contact us on our website or Facebook page.
The Allegri Singers
Directed by William Moxey
Classical
Link to Facebook
The Allegri Singers have been performing in Bathurst for over 40 years. We are a mixed voice choir and perform 2 major concerts a year.The May concert tends to be an eclectic mix of smaller pieces and works and for the November concert we perform a major choral work. Last year we performed Sir Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man to wide acclaim. This involved 90 choristers, vocal soloists, a 50-piece orchestra and a Muslim call to prayer. We performed to packed audiences in Bathurst and Orange.
The Choir Central Singers
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Gary Smith
Pop, gospel, classical
garysmithsydney.wixsite.com
The Choir Central Singers come together for special occasions such festivals and ceremonies. The singers are all members of 4 Sydney choirs, which include The South West Voices from Padstow, The Bondi Sings Choir, the ABC Choir which rehearse at lunchtimes at the ABC building in Ultimo and The Bridge on the River Choir from St Peters. The choirs are all directed by Gary Smith. They have a very eclectic repertoire that includes popular music, jazz, soul, gospel, folk, world music and classical music. Our aim is to explore a wide variety of styles and make the best possible sound while maintaining a happy and congenial social atmosphere. We always have a focused approach to the musical work and frequently tackle challenging arrangements that stretch people’s ability. The Choir Central Singers, like all community choirs love performing and present several public concerts each year in various locations around Sydney.
The Heathens
Directed by Christine Wheeler
English language folk and popular
heathenschoir.org
Like many community choirs, the mission of The Heathens Choir is to bring the joy of making music into the lives of ordinary people with busy lives. Audiences will enjoy their wide range of repertoire as well as their infectious pleasure in sharing their music, which includes folk songs from a range of ethnicities and some well-loved popular songs. With more than 50 un-auditioned members coming from Hazelbrook to Lithgow, we cater for a range of backgrounds from people who learn by ear and may not have sung in a choir previously, to fluent music readers familiar with singing in four parts. We are committed to striving for a high musical standard, while also being firm believers that the journey must be as enjoyable as the outcome.
Urban Voices
Directed by Alex Pringle
A mix of contemporary, folk and classical
facebook.com/UrbanVoicesChoirEppin
Urban Voices is a vibrant community choir based in the Sydney suburb of Epping. They perform a mixture of styles of music in the name of joyous song and togetherness. They perform regularly in Sydney and are previous finalists in the John Lamble Australasian Choral Championships.
Vocal Edge
Directed by Amanda Nelson
Barbershop
vocaledgebluemountains.com
Vocal Edge is a women’s barbershop ensemble based in Blackheath with members who travel from both ends of the Blue Mountains and beyond to rehearse and perform. We sing four-part a cappella modern barbershop with a mixed repertoire of barbershop, jazz, swing, folk and pop. We are a small chorus with big ambition. We have a love of making awesome music and a passion to constantly evolve as musicians. Under the guidance of Amanda Nelson (Director) we get together weekly to work on vocal technique and performance skills in a warm, fun, and supportive environment. We welcome women of all voice ranges from 16 years of age and up, who have energy and drive and want to part of our future adventures.
Vocalocity
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Amelia Nell
Contemporary a cappella
vocalocity.com.au
Vocalocity is an a cappella group based in Leura in the Blue Mountains. The group consists of seven young singers and one beatboxer, all aged between 16 and 19 years. Directed by Contemporary singing teacher, Amelia Nell, Vocalocity enjoy singing a broad range of musical styles and genres with a passion for upbeat Contemporary repertoire inspired by groups such as Pentatonix and the Pitch Perfect movies. This group have been singing together since they just started high school and although some members have moved on to university in Sydney and Wollongong, they all still very much love singing together and are committed to making the trek to Leura every week for rehearsal. Vocalocity has become known in competition circles with achievements including a first place win in The Australian Choral Challenge at The Australian National Eisteddfod 2017, a place on the national stage at The Australian A Cappella Awards 2018 and they were the only vocal ensemble to be invited to participate in the Australasian Choral Championships 2018 in both the Youth and Open Age divisions. No matter the occasion, Vocalocity can be counted upon to deliver a polished performance complete with their sense of fun, fabulous and flair.
Voice Male
PHOTO TO COME
Directed by Margi Coen
From folk and sea shanties to jazz and pop
voicemale.com.au
‘Voice male’ are an attractive bunch of blokes (inside and out) who love nothing more than to get together every Tuesday night and sing; in between random banter and the worst set of dad jokes you can imagine!! But seriously – we see ourselves as a group that enjoys singing in a safe environment with a lot of comradery and support for each other!! Our songs range in style from folk to pop, to gaelic chants and tribal anthems. We have performed in pubs (in between drinking), local markets, the Angel Place Recital Hall and the Salvation Army Congress( CBD) The plans for our tour to Cuba are still in their infancy ….. We are part of a network called Sydney Vocal Arts Centre that is run by our MD; Margi Coen.
VOILÀ!
Directed by Jocelyn Moen
Original French Language
www.jocemoen.com
VOILÀ! Is the only French choir for miles around – we checked and the closest we know of is Melbourne (bonjour les amies!). To make us truly unique, we sing mostly original songs written for us by our founder & director Jocelyn Moen. These songs – now available on CD and in the VOILÀ! Songbook – are quirky delvings into matters of the heart, mind, spirit, garbage truck, teacosy, chocolate croissant… and so much more. VOILÀ! is a friendly Katoomba-based group so if you’re interested in joining us please come and talk to us in the interval.
Blackheath Choir Festival 