Singers off the street

The more, the merrier.

That is the message from the Sydney Sings community choir, a group intent on bringing together locals from all walks of life.

Co-conductor of the choir, Liz Lecoanet said joining the choir is easy. “Just walk in off the street and start singing with us,” she said.

Inclusion and expression through music are the key characteristics of Sydney Sings, with performers from all backgrounds, including people who live on the street.

“Music is a universal language,” Ms Lecoanet said. “Through music we get to mix and get to know each other.”

The community choir held their end-of-year soiree last Tuesday.

“We have a wish list where people write down songs they want to sing and we tried to sing as many of those as possible,” she said.

Sydney Sings performed an impressive range of old and new music, including Fifty Years Ago, a poem set to music written for the choir by member Bruce Leeden, Christmas carols, and the classic Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The choir provides a means for people to express themselves in an enjoyable way.

“It’s a chance to do something for fun with no pressure, no expectations and no consequences,” Ms Lecoanet said. “It’s like a party that people go to if they feel like it.

Sydney Sings is part of a network of choirs in NSW, Victoria and Canberra under the banner of ‘With One Voice’. The program was developed by the not-for-profit organisation, Creativity Australia as a means to foster social inclusion and community wellbeing.

All the choirs gathered in Melbourne Town Hall two weeks ago for an end of year concert called ‘With One Big Voice’.

Sydney Sings rehearses every Tuesday evening at 5.30 pm at the Pitt Street Uniting Church at 264 Pitt St, Sydney. Around 40 people attend each rehearsal, with up to 90 present on occasions.

The choir’s motto is everyone is welcome, and Oz Harvest Food Rescue provides a meal after each rehearsal. Rehearsals have ceased for 2012 and will recommence on the first Tuesday evening in February 2013.

By Paul Clark