We feel it and science tells us, that music, whether singing (solo or in a choir), playing an instrument or as a member of a concert audience, offers benefits far beyond simple enjoyment.
Music generates a sense of wellbeing and togetherness among people of all ages as well as reducing stress and even improving memory.
Singing in a choir is perhaps at the top of the list of positive ways to include music in your life.
Gippsland has several active choirs, some of which are keen to welcome new participants.
LEGGS – Lakes Entrance Gippsland
Girl Singers
This women’s choir, based in Lakes Entrance, is well-known for their performances and community involvement, including regular concerts for charity. They often incorporate audience participation and feature local musicians in their shows. They perform a variety of music, including well-known songs from different eras.
This was evident in their November 2024 concert A Trip Down Memory Lane, which featured songs from the 1940s to the 1980s.
Contact: Kay Poynton – director and soloist
JP and the Sweet Notes – Lakes Entrance
This group of musicians is based in Lakes Entrance and have strong connections to LEGGS. The Sweet Notes include John Poynton on guitar, harpist Jess Moller, and soloists Kay Poynton and Sue Bigham.
Contact: Kay Poynton – director and soloist
La Viva Voce – Paynesville
La Viva Voce is inviting new members to join their friendly community of singers under the guidance of an experienced choral director and vocalist.
This energetic group of women meet every Wednesday afternoon to rehearse and share the joy of music.
The choir welcomes singers of all experience levels and voice ranges.
La Viva Voce takes pride in performing at local aged care facilities and bringing joy to residents through familiar and beloved songs.
A highlight of the choir’s calendar is their annual Christmas performance at St Peter’s Church in Paynesville, where they celebrate with a collection of seasonal melodies.
If you love music and are looking for an enjoyable, supportive community, go along and sing with La Viva Voce.
And it’s not all about practice and performance – members also enjoy socialising through regular morning coffee catchups. You may just find a new passion – and some great friends along the way.
Rehearsals: 2-4pm, Wednesday afternoons
Community Hall in Parkridge Retirement Village, 5 Canal Road, Paynesville.
Metung Singers – Metung
Sue Taylor (musical director)
Rehearsals: Saint John’s Anglican Church, 39-41 Stirling Road, Metung. Mondays 7.30-9pm
Contact: Bronwyn Matolytsch – administrator
Stratford Singers – Stratford
Rehearsals: Meets weekly
Contact: Check Stratford Singers Facebook page for more information.
The Stratford Singers are a community choir for all ages that sings a variety of songs from various cultures. Mary Williams (musical director) and Claudia Bluett (accompanist).
Purpose: To promote singing as a healthy activity and to provide community enjoyment.
The Alleycats Community
Choir – Bairnsdale
An active community singing group, encouraging anyone to join, no audition required.
Rehearsals: The Hub, corner of Service and Dalmahoy Streets, Bairnsdale
Contact: alleycatschoir@gmail.com
The Gentlemen’s Choir – Bairnsdale
The choir was founded by Bob Yeates for guys who just want to sing for the joy of it – no questions asked. You must of course be a male person.
Contact: Bob Yeates – for more information
The Nowa Nowa Men’s Choir – Lake Tyers
What began as a bit of fun at a party long ago has become a local legend. These men are a group of enthusiasts who enjoy singing together and have been performing for many years.
Rehearsals: The group meets in the pleasant surroundings of Wyanga Winery every Thursday night from about 7pm to 9pm. If you enjoy singing, then come along.
Contact: Geoff Malook (Wyanga Park Winery)
The Vanuatu Workers Alliance
Chorus – Bairnsdale
Australia runs a seasonal work program to make sure there are enough people to harvest our agricultural crops.
The program gives Pacific Island workers an opportunity to send remittances home to build houses, start businesses, pay for education and support whole families in their Pacific Island communities year after year.
In between the long days and hard work, a group of 24 seasonal workers from Ni Vanuatu also engage with the choir community in East Gippsland.
The Bairnsdale Vanuatu Workers Alliance Chorus (VWAC) participated in the annual Choir Festival at St Mary’s in Bairnsdale in May 2025.
VWAC members are all from the same island of Lelepa, north of Port Vila in Vanuatu. They typically sing hymns, but as you might expect they are in full flight when they sing songs from their own culture.
Rehearsals: Very likely as they work together picking fruit or vegetables in Gippsland, Victoria.
Contact: Search online
Harmony Scholars Choir
With about a dozen choir members, the Harmony Scholars Choir has a repertoire of country folk songs which they generously and energetically share with audiences in residential old age homes or community halls around Gippsland.
An audience of more than 100 people sang, laughed and clapped along on Tuesday, July 8 this year when 40 members of the Harmony Scholars choir held their Country Folk concert at the Picnic Point Hall.
The stage had a large banner backdrop of a country scene and red and white bunting was strung across the hall; hay bales and a saddle rounded out the welcome to residents from local aged care homes, and friends and relatives of choir members.
A large screen enabled the audience to sing along with the choir to 24 country folk songs such as G’day, G’day; Don’t Fence Me In; Country Roads; Sweet Violets; Jambalaya; and When You’re Smiling.
This latest Harmony Scholars concert included a recently formed Gum Boot Band, with choir members using a drum, washboard, shakers, sticks and a lagerphone which entered the fray for the first bracket of songs.
Ginny Vincent conducted the choir, and choir members Mark Dale, Faye Betts, Diana Auld, Maureen Symmonds, Ineke Child, Suzi Roberts, Robert and Gill Morpeth, Ann Sims, Rob Eldridge, Darell Brew, Gayle English, Flora Russell and Bridie Christie provided solo, duet and trio items.
A mini piano duet by Leonie Love and Lyn Winnett from the William Tell Overture surprised both the choir and the audience.
The concert was followed by a delicious afternoon tea.
