STORY - "Those Who Sing Together Stay Together"

Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

These words from “Silent Night” are a description of one of the first choirs - the Choir of Angels. Today choirs take a somewhat different form yet they have remained a defining part of religious life. Choirs have even taken centre stage in the media with the promotion of televised choir competitions. But why is singing in a group preferential over becoming the next Australian Idol?
Cathy White, choir director at St Joseph’s East Maitland, can answer this question.

In 1977 Cathy married Trevor and moved with him to East Maitland. In a new parish and a new life Cathy decided to join the choir to meet people. “When I joined East Maitland parish, I was asked by a long term choir member, Jack Wills, if I would like to join the choir and he volunteered to take me and look after me there. I have always loved singing and found it a good way to get to know people in a new parish.” Since then friends know Cathy cannot be contacted on a Wednesday night because choir practice is on - “Almost every Wednesday night for 28 years!” During these years Cathy has played a major role in the development of the choir. “I began 'just' as a singer and during Renew in the diocese I was asked to play the organ at Mass. When the organist retired from the choir, I started to play for the choir. We have had three different choir conductors but as they left for different reasons, it has been left to me to continue the choir although I am not a confident solo singer at all.” For someone who is not a ‘confident solo singer’ to have such a passion for singing, there must be something else about choirs.

Greg Kerr was introduced to choral music by a girl. “I had just moved to Canberra in early 1979 and had met a girl who invited me to join SCUNA - the ANU Choral Society. I joined up only to find out that she was already involved with the accompanist.” Now Greg is probably best known as a member of the University Chamber Choir, which recently won Prime’s television competition Battle of the Choirs. In over 30 years of choral singing Greg has been a member of over eight choirs and often more than one at the same time. Greg is a member of Newcastle University Choir and has held a presidential role in the past. Greg believes choir singing, “is a big part of our lives because we all love music and singing, no matter how great or limited our individual technical skills and knowledge.” He has always enjoyed music and for him the choir is a chance for people with the same love of music to come together and socialise. “Chamber Choir is quite social and we usually get together for a few drinks and dinner after rehearsal. It is also a pretty solid support group, especially around the stresses of competition and a heavy performance schedule, remembering that we all do something else for a living.”

For Greg, joining a choir was incidental and for Cathy it was a means of joining a new community. Choirs also have a place in the spiritual context.

Singing can be an expression of spirituality. Cathy says, “The choir provides a 'small church community' for its members and is a very supportive and friendly group. The power of singing together in praise of God in a beautiful church has a prevailing effect. This is a powerful way of praying and often when we have rehearsed a hymn there is a tangible sense of sharing something sacred.” Greg has had a similar choir experience. “When I went to uni I was also a student for the priesthood living in a house of studies and we provided a lot of the music at the local parish.”

Choirs do not just play a role in church life though, they are also important to the secular community. “I think choirs have a lot to offer a community as it is an opportunity for people to work together to achieve a positive goal,” said Cathy. She points out that a piece of a few minutes duration takes hours of preparation. “The sound of voices singing together is uplifting and a sign of harmony in the community, excuse the pun!” Greg also insists that choirs are valuable to the community. “As far as the members are concerned they provide a very valuable opportunity to share an activity that is very close to their hearts and which requires a fair bit of effort and also emotional commitment. As far as the broader community is concerned, they provide a very important resource for cultural enrichment at little or no cost to the rest of the community. Overall, choirs provide a positive, co-operative and emotionally uplifting experience for both members and audiences, which is a real plus to society.” The benefits of choirs have now crossed over to popular culture despite their historical roots in religious and spiritual worship.

Choirs have become a prime time phenomenon with the ABC and Prime both holding competitions. On Prime’s “Battle of the Choirs” there was little choral music with choirs choosing modern pieces. Are choirs on television helping or hindering the traditional choir? Cathy sits on the fence on this issue. “I am pleased that the choir program was so popular but to be honest there has been little change in parish land. In fact, our numbers have dwindled over the last few years.” Greg agrees saying, “Based on generally declining audience numbers and the increasing average age of choir members, I would have said that the popularity of choirs was on the wane. However, I would be delighted to be proven wrong.” This popularity is a new phenomenon and thanks to the success of the University of Newcastle Chamber Choir it seems choirs have returned to the radar of many Novocastrians. Now it is just a matter of opening our ears and seeing where the notes take us.

Jessie Brown

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