At the end of each performance of The Heartbreak Choir, a local community choir joins the cast on stage for the heartfelt finale. Read on to learn more about each choir.
Casey Sings!
Casey Sings! is a program of Play It Forward created by ARIA, Logie and Helpmann award-winning founding artistic director Jonathon Welch AM. Jonathon has been working with the Casey community and the City of Casey Council since August 2013 with the launch of The City of Casey Choir to perform in Opera Australia's massed community choir project at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Since then, Play It Forward has delivered the most unique experiences and opportunities under the direction of Jonathon for Casey Sings! members who have performed in prestigious venues and events locally and internationally including the inaugural choral concert in Bunjil Place, Deakin Edge Theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House, St Peter’s in Rome, World Expo in Milan, Carnegie Hall in New York, Manchester Cathedral and the Royal Albert Hall, London. Casey Sings! rehearse weekly on Tuesday evenings at the newly refurbished Narre Warren Bowls Club, their rehearsal and performance home for their program of fun musical events. The Music Director for Casey Sings! in 2022 is internationally acclaimed Hephzibah Tintner Conducting Fellowship award-winning conductor Patrick Burns, who is also Director of Music, Melbourne Programs for Play It Forward.
Choir of Opportunity
The Choir of Opportunity is a fun, un-auditioned adult community choir based in Yarraville. Originally formed in 2015 as Victoria University's first Centenary Choir, it is now operating independently under the Play It Forward choir program. The Choir of Opportunity rehearses weekly on a Thursday evening and membership is open to all, no experience or audition required! The choir is made up of Victoria University staff members, students, alumni and members of the local community. The Music Director for Choir of Opportunity in 2022 is internationally acclaimed Hephzibah Tintner Conducting Fellowship award-winning conductor Patrick Burns, who is also Director of Music, Melbourne Programs for Play It Forward.
Glee Plus
Glee Plus is a choir where their number one priority is having fun. There are no auditions to get involved – you just need to be willing to hang out for a ten week season and learn a bunch of fun songs. Under the direction of Vicky Jacobs, Glee Plus loves to sing all types of music with a special penchant for pop and music theatre. Glee Plus also loves exploring new music and are proud to have premiered a number of works by Melbourne composers. Glee Plus have performed in such iconic venues as The Melba Spiegeltent, Brunswick Ballroom, MONA and The State Library. Glee Plus rehearse on Saturday afternoons and don’t have tea breaks – they have wine time!
Glee West
Glee West is becoming an important part of the fabric of Melbourne’s west. Getting together every Tuesday night at Kindred Studios in Yarraville, the Glee Westies are all about fun, music-making, community-spirit and sharing a laugh and a drink or two! There are no auditions to get involved – you just need to be willing to hang out for a ten week season and learn a bunch of fun songs. Glee West is led by Katie Pryce and have performed at Grazeland, the Yarraville Festival and the Brunswick Ballroom. Having launched in 2019, they have spent a substantial amount of time on zoom and are loving being back in the room together.
KeyTones
The KeyTones Choir started as The Nurses Choir of Victoria in 1997 and now includes around 40 choristers from a wide variety of professions. They are a dynamic and sociable non-auditioned group with a diverse repertoire including gospel, pop, classical works and Broadway standards. KeyTones perform regularly in Melbourne at events, concerts and festivals and have participated in interstate choral festivals. They have retained a commitment to their health sector origins by participating in the annual Nurses Memorial Centre Anzac Day Commemorative Service and performing regularly at aged care homes. They have been the subject of two short documentaries, have collaborated regularly with other choirs and musicians, and been involved in local theatre and creative arts productions. Under the stellar leadership of Jane Murone for the past 18 years, the choir aims for a high standard of performance and relishes being part of a vibrant and supportive choral community.
Latrobe Valley Community Choir
The Latrobe Valley Community Choir (LVCC) is a dedicated, fun-loving ensemble of singers based in the Latrobe Valley that love to sing! LVCC was formed in 2013 in response to Opera Australia’s Community Partnerships Program in conjunction with Jonathon Welch AM and the School of Hard Knocks. The project was so successful that participants decided to continue as an independent, primarily self-funded group of passionate singers under the Play It Forward choir program. LVCC has grown to more than 40 members who rehearse weekly on Tuesday evenings in Traralgon and enjoy participating in local performances and producing events in the Latrobe Valley, along with taking advantage of performance opportunities in metropolitan and other regions with Play It Forward. The Music Director for Latrobe Valley Community Choir, Dr Kevin Cameron, is a highly esteemed Australian music educator and conductor. He is also the Music Director of the New Zealand Youth Symphonic Winds and Director of Performing Arts at Gippsland Grammar School.
Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir
Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir (MMGC) is Victoria’s hottest community gospel choir. The huge sound of 80 voices singing foot stompin’, hand clappin’ Black gospel, balanced with the finest of vocal harmonies. MMGC sings traditional, popular and contemporary gospel. Formed in 2008, the choir has performed sell out shows at the famous Gershwin Room at the Espy Hotel, the Corner Hotel in Richmond, Collins Street Baptist Church, Melbourne Convention Centre, Port Fairy Folk Festival main stage and their own self produced shows. In 2011, MMGC presented for the first time in Australia the Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan show, singing the powerful songs of Dylan’s Slow Train Coming and Saved albums. The three Melbourne shows were sold out and led to an invitation to perform at Port Fairy Folk Festival. Phil Heuzenroeder is the choir's dynamic Music Director. He is passionate about gospel music, having recently toured gospel churches in the US.
Noteworthy
Noteworthy was formed in 2021 with the merger of two fantastic groups, Tongue n Groove and Mood Swing. These groups have been singing for more than 20 years. They have performed all over Melbourne and across the state of Victoria. Whether it is for weddings, corporate events, festivals or private functions, their tight harmonies and stage presence bring great delight. The merger means that Noteworthy has been forged on solid foundations and will continue the great legacy that both groups created. When it comes to energy, entertainment and fantastic singing, Noteworthy is hard to beat. Their Music Director, Lisa Schwabe, is highly regarded as a skilled vocal arranger and director. This means Noteworthy's repertoire is wide, varied and always crowd pleasing. It includes everything from gospel and classical, to pop and soul, jazz and African to show tunes and contemporary Australian artists. Most of all, it is Noteworthy.
Play It Forward Combined Choir
Having created Sydney Street Choir in 2001, Australia's first choir for those experiencing homelessness and disadvantage, Jonathon Welch AM unveiled the Choir of Hard Knocks in 2006 to a national audience through the award-winning ABC documentary of the same name. These groundbreaking initiatives inspired the creation of a worldwide movement of ‘street choirs’, which have been recognised amongst the most outstanding social inclusion models of the past decade for reconnecting isolated, vulnerable and marginalised members of their community. Today, Play It Forward is Jonathon's vision and legacy for the future of inclusive arts programs. Jonathon’s groundbreaking social justice work, combined with his decades of professional arts experience, knowledge and passion for music has inspired him to look beyond his original 'street choir' concept, inviting Australians of all ages and backgrounds to now participate in the nation’s mainstream cultural life, building resilient and inclusive 'cultural villages' for the future. The Play It Forward Combined Choir comprises members from all of our community choir programs across Victoria.
THE CHO!R
THE CHO!R is an un-auditioned community choir created by Jonathon Welch AM in 2009 that rehearses weekly on Wednesday evenings in the Docklands. One of Melbourne’s most exciting community adult choirs with a current membership of between 60 and 80 members, THE CHO!R has performed extensively throughout Victoria and interstate, raising thousands of dollars to support other community related music activities including the African Children's Choir, Choir of Hard Knocks, Play It Forward and St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne. THE CHO!R's repertoire spans all genres from contemporary, jazz and swing to opera, music theatre and rock and is open to all interested singers, experienced or budding, from 18 years and over. The Music Director for THE CHO!R in 2022 is internationally acclaimed Hephzibah Tintner Conducting Fellowship award-winning conductor Patrick Burns, who is also Director of Music, Melbourne Programs for Play It Forward.
Voices of Moonee Valley
Voices of Moonee Valley is an all abilities community choir that commenced in 2020 under the leadership of Jonathon Welch AM, founding artistic director of the award-winning Choir of Hard Knocks. Voices of Moonee Valley rehearse weekly on Friday mornings at the Clocktower Centre in Moonee Ponds. It is a joint collaboration between Play It Forward and Moonee Valley City Council providing a fun and inclusive choir experience for all. The Music Director for Voices of Moonee Valley in 2022 is 2022 is internationally acclaimed Hephzibah Tintner Conducting Fellowship award-winning conductor Patrick Burns, who is also Director of Music, Melbourne Programs for Play It Forward.
Western Health Singers
Western Health Singers is a fun workplace choir established in 2015 that rehearses weekly on a Thursday evening in Sunshine. It was formed in partnership with Western Health and Play It Forward to encourage a strong community element in the workplace with opportunities to perform at Western Health celebrations and events, along with Play It Forward events and projects. Membership is open to all Western Health staff, volunteers and local community members, no experience or audition required. The Music Director for Western Health Singers is one of Australia's leading show choir directors and internationally acclaimed pianist Adam Przewlocki, who is also Co-Music Director of the ARIA, Logie and Helpmann award-winning Choir of Hard Knocks.
Vox Chops
Vox Chops is a jazz choir that thrives on intricate harmony and nurtures aspiring soloists into being. With repertoire covering barbershop, swing, doo wop and R&B, the choir performs both a cappella and with band accompaniment, featuring some of Melbourne’s most awesome jazz musicians. Led by jazz vocalist Jolene Moran, Vox Chops offer workshops and weekly rehearsals for singers looking for a vocal project that keeps them on their toes. Along with annual concerts at Spotted Mallard and community events, Vox Chops has also performed at Stonnington Jazz Festival and featured at The Boite Singer’s Festival.
Published on 28 April 2022