With One Voice Adelaide CBD choir is a singing group with an open-door policy. Despite being run by professional voice coaches, the choir – which meets in Scots Church at North Terrace – focuses on its community rather than just its chorus.

“I think a lot of community choirs you still have to audition to get into, but we’re very much not like that,” conductor, singing teacher and local musician Katie Pomery says of the choir, which started in February last year.

“People get together, make friends and have a feed afterwards. Sharing a meal together is really important and so many friendships have been made.”

The Adelaide CBD choir is one of more than 30 choirs set up across the country as part of not-for-profit Creativity Australia’s With One Voice (WOV) program, which invites participants of all ages, faiths, backgrounds and cultures to “experience the joy, freedom and inspiration of song”. One of the program’s key aims is to combat social isolation and harness what it describes as the neuro-scientific benefits of group singing.

“We found out about grants going for new choirs through With One Voice around the country,” says Pomery, adding that she and vocal teacher Kate Lewis were trained online in how to operate their own With One Voice choir.

“I personally wanted to be involved because I had only taught children’s choirs at the time and wanted to try out something new. I also loved the sound of WOV because it was all about bringing people together and the act of sharing dinner together sounded cosy, warm, and lovely.”

With One Voice promotes the wellbeing benefits of group singing. Picture: Jason Katsaras / InReview

Today, the choir has a loyal following of around 15 regulars, ranging from university students in their early 20s to retirees in their 60s. Despite being held in a church, it has no religious affiliation and welcomes people off of the street.

After separating into groups of vocal range, participants set about learning one song for each session, with their repertoire ranging across popular songs of every genre including hits from artists such as Madonna, Kate Bush, Vanessa Amorosi and Paul Kelly.

A choir member prepares and brings a meal to share with the group at each of the gatherings, which also include conversation and an initiative known as the “Wish List”.

Pomery says the Wish List helps foster the kinship and community feel of the choir. It is a means by which group members can ask for and grant one another wishes at the start of the session, whether it be help with a language, computer tuition, assistance with resumes or even herbs from the garden.

“It makes it feel like we’re all in the room together and we’re all talking to each other, not just being told what to do.”

Singers including Trent Walsh (right) at a choir session. Photo: Jason Katsaras / InReview

In 2021, the Adelaide CBD choir persisted through lockdowns, mask restrictions and indoor singing restrictions, first pivoting to hosting singing sessions through Zoom, then in person with masks and even in a nearby park (see video below).

“That was really beautiful and we would have kept doing it…  I think we only stopped because daylight savings ended, [but] we may do it again,” Pomery says of the park sessions.

Attending a recent session in the Scots Church, this writer felt part of something bigger than a choir –  a feeling echoed by participants. With One Voice regular Trent Walsh says the choir has had a profound impact on his overall wellbeing.

“To be honest with you, when I started I was a bit shy. I wouldn’t actually sing at all – I would just sit there and watch,” Walsh says. “But then I got so much encouragement to get up and start singing. Since then, I really enjoyed it.

“As well as the singing aspect, it’s given me more confidence in meeting new people and socialising, but also improving on my wellbeing.”

Walsh, who now helps with the administration of the choir, says he has tried to ensure other newcomers also feel warmly welcomed. “It’s a very safe environment, like you can come in crook in the world and people will still open up and come and chat with you.

“There are some times I’ve been really down before coming in, and Katie and Kate and some people here have picked me up… when new people come in here, I lift them up as well.”

Choir regular Anton Tragarz with his homemade apple crumble. Photo: Jason Katsaras / InReview

Another choir regular, Anton Tragarz, works as a doctor at a dermatology clinic and says he has enjoyed meeting new people through the group.

“I’ve found that variety is the spice of life,” says Tragarz, who brought a homemade apple crumble to a recent choir session. “At different times I’ve done dancing; I’ve even done some Argentine tango.”

The group doesn’t have plans to perform any full-scale shows, but has accompanied other Adelaide artists on stage, including playing with Naomi Keyte at a folk festival. Members have also sung on a recording with local singer Tim Moore.

With One Voice Adelaide CBD choir meets at Scots Church on the last Wednesday of the month at 6pm.

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