Party: Sydney Male Choir

Party: Sydney Male Choir

The Sydney Male Choir is a not for profit organization. "Bringing joy through song" is our major objective: joy to our audiences as well as joy to ourselves as singers. The choir started as the "Petersham Glee Club" in the Sydney suburb of Petersham in 1913 and has continued without a break to the present day. In that time we have sung all types of music from the classics and opera to Welsh hymns, from the musicals and pop to modern Australian compositions. It may well be this variety that appeals so much to audiences and choristers alike.

We are proud to have sung at every ANZAC Day dawn service in Martin Place, Sydney, since it was first held in 1930 and we were particularly pleased to be selected to travel to Villers-Bretonneux, in France, to sing at the ANZAC day dawn service there in our centenary year. That same year our then patron, The Governor of NSW Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, was kind enough to recognise the commitment the choir has shown to ANZAC Day with a vice-regal reception which she hosted in our honour at Government House, Sydney.

The Choir's long history has only been possible by aspiring to the very highest musical standards. Perhaps surprisingly, there have only been 13 musical directors in 100 years, each supported by able and committed pianists.

Today this tradition is maintained by our professional musical director, Keiren Brandt-Sawdy, professional accompanist, Dewi Liu, and a group of more than 50 singers prepared to attend rehearsals every week. Their dedication is evident with some coming to Sydney from as far afield as Nowra, Port Stephens and Bowral.

In a typical year we give 15 or more performances. These range from our major annual concert, which attracts an audience of close to 1000, to shows for clubs, community groups, churches, and charities as well as private individuals. We like to take our music to as wide an audience as possible and try to tour somewhere each year, either in country Australia or overseas.

Our running and professional costs are considerable and we are greatly indebted to our sponsors for their "in kind" and financial support.