There is a lively choral scene in and around Bairnsdale where people of all ages gather to challenge themselves, be joyful, and find new friends.
The annual East Gippsland choral program has as its centrepiece a wonderful Choral Festival held in St Mary’s Church in Bairnsdale. This year the Choral Festival is programmed for 2pm on May 25. There is a small entry charge.
Each choir performs a selection from their repertoire to enthusiastic family and friends, as well as members of the pubic in the beautiful St Mary’s Church in Bairnsdale.
The program is followed by a splendid afternoon tea which provides a great opportunity for choir members to catch up and the audience to engage with the singers. It is also a perfect opportunity to sign up to a choir in your area.
Choirs are generally led by a musical director with the support of an administrator and usually a committee. The experience of singing in a choir is uplifting but there is discipline as well as joy in the process of merging your voice with others to create a “single” soaring sound.
Some of the choirs likely to be represented at the Choral Festival are Alleycats Community Choir (Bairnsdale), Bairnsdale Gentlemen’s Choir, Lakes Entrance Girls Singers, Metung Singers JP & The Sweet Notes (Lakes), Vanuatu Workers Alliance Chorus (Bairnsdale), Stratford Singers, and the Nowa Nowa Men’s Choir (Lake Tyers).
The Choral Festival has been running for many years, with some choirs disappearing and new groups emerging.
The Choral Festival was initiated by Anne Roffe (Ariel Choir) in 1996 and was held annually at the Forge Theatre until 2001. Between 2002 and 2008 the festival was taken over by June Treadwell (Newland Singers) when it was run by the Uniting Church. Elaine Griffiths (La Viva Voce) continued the tradition till Alleycats stepped up in 2014-2015.
Since 2016 it has been run by a committee with representatives from each local choir with the festival being held at St Mary’s.
Between 2020-2022 COVID put a stop to the Choral Festival but 2023 saw a spirited return to the celebration of choral singing.
The 27th celebration of the Choral Festival will be held at St Mary’s from 2pm on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
The Choral Festival offers a wonderful opportunity for East Gippsland’s many diverse communities and choral groups to share the joy of music.
