Getting involved
Take to the stage with us!
How to join the chorus
Regular Chorus rehearsals Take place every Wednesday evening in Carlton. If you would like to join us in the limelight, the next member intake is on Wednesday October the 26th 2011. Please email info@mglc.org.au to enquire. The Chorus welcomes both singing and non-singing members.
As you might expect Chorus members come from all sorts of backgrounds, ages, interests, and levels of musical experience, but whether beginners or old hands, we all enjoy singing and performing. What follows should give you a pretty good idea of who we are, what we do and how we go about it.
Several times during the year, usually after a major concert, those interested in joining are invited to attend rehearsals for four weeks to participate, see what we do, and decide if they’d enjoy singing in the Chorus.
If you do decide to join us membership of the chorus costs, but it’s usually very affordable, and some concessions are available.
Usually the Chorus has two or three major concerts a year. Ticket sales are our major income to cover costs, ensure stability and growth, and to support the next concert or special project (such as a major tour, merchandise, CDs or new equipment). We also perform at a number of community events during the year, and are part of a wider G&L choral network getting together with interstate (and sometimes overseas) friends for joint concerts, workshops and festivals.
We rehearse weekly on Wednesday evenings and sometimes also have sectional practice on material we can’t cover adequately at full rehearsals. These occasional extra sessions are arranged for when most of a section can attend.
Of course, the Chorus also has a commitment to its members which is to strive for musical excellence by promoting musical skills and providing a welcoming, enjoyable and supportive environment for learning and performance. Through all this we seek to entertain, inspire and enrich our communities. That’s our ‘vision’ or mission statement which all sounds pretty good!
Sometimes we use musical instruments or percussion in addition to the piano to accompany songs, so if you have skills in this area, let us know as we may be able to use those talents too! Of course, we also often perform ‘a cappella’, that is, with no musical accompaniment… just a beautiful blending of voices!
Apart from some enjoying supper after rehearsals at a nearby café in Carlton, the Chorus has an active social life too! We do bowls, movie and show nights, fund raising events, chocolate drives, car rallies, Carols singing (December of course) and a Christmas BBQ picnic. A yearly highlight is also a fun weekend Campin-the-country for intensive rehearsals and maybe some skills workshops, summer camp style.
Postal address: Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus Inc. GPO Box 813F Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia
24 hour voicemail: (+61 03) 9517 6538
E-mail: info@mglc.org.au
See you at rehearsal!
Stage-fright?
If you’d rather help out behind the scenes, then why not volunteer?
We are often looking for volunteers to help with concerts, social events and community outreach. If you could sell tickets, or show take tickets at the door, be a roadie, or a stagehand then we would welcome the help. Please email info@mglc.org.au to enquire.