The Choir

After interviewing the Perth Manager of the Big Issue Magazine, Rachel Pemberton in February 2007, Choir Director Bernard Carney invited the magazine vendors to a sing-a-long. They had so much fun that the group agreed to meet every week and soon began to perform regularly, as the Big Issue Choir. Before long other disadvantaged people joined the choir and so founding member Adrian came up with the name Spirit of the Streets Choir which we all liked, and made our own.

The choir is self-funded and relies on performance fees and donations for expenses.

The Choir members and associates

The choir is essentially for disadvantaged people, outside the reach of the mainstream community – the homeless and long-term unemployed, those with a mental illness, the disabled, those affected by drugs or alcohol – and also their carers and volunteers who help with housekeeping and transport.

This choir has provided tremendous support for it’s members some of whom live very lonely and isolated lives and many have commented that the choir is now their family. It has become a safe place to begin to their journey back in the wider community. A major result is the growth of self esteem and confidence in many individuals as they overcome obstacles such as anxiety and depression and participate.

Performances

For the first year the choir performed at many community events then

in 2008 Ken Steele, of the Perth Male Voice Choir, approached Bernard with the fantastic idea of a joint performance at the Perth Concert Hall. This goal was accomplished on October 14^th 2008 to a venue packed with  2000 people.

Then Ken became choir manager and we have gone from strength to strength, performing at numerous fundraising endeavours and community events and another combined choir concert on 23^rd October 2009 atSt George’s Cathedral,Perth was a huge success.