Sydney Street Choir
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
How music, community and compassion transform lives across Sydney and beyond
On any given week in Sydney, you might hear something extraordinary drifting out of a community hall in Redfern, a space in Liverpool, or even the walls of Dillwynia Women’s Prison. It’s not just a choir rehearsal — it’s a lifeline set to music.
History of Sydney Street Choir
For more than two decades, the Sydney Street Choir has been transforming lives through song. Founded in 2001 by acclaimed performer and social advocate Jonathon Welch AO, the choir is now the longest-running program of its kind in Australia. But longevity is only part of the story. What truly sets this choir apart is the power of its purpose.
This is not your typical community ensemble. Many members have experienced homelessness, mental health challenges, domestic violence, or deep social isolation. Here, they find something that can’t be handed out in a care package: connection, confidence and a sense of belonging. Rehearsals are as much about friendship as they are about harmonies. Performances are celebrations of resilience.
And perform they do — often. The choir maintains a busy schedule, appearing at community gatherings, corporate events and festivals, sometimes dozens of times a year. Their voices have travelled well beyond Sydney too, with tours to regional NSW, Melbourne, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Along the way, they’ve shared stages with big names including Dami Im, Deni Hines, Angry Anderson and Leo Sayer.
More than a music group
Music is the heartbeat, but support runs deeper. Behind the scenes, a dedicated social welfare program helps members navigate real-life challenges — from housing insecurity and financial hardship to employment pathways and counselling. Individualised support and referrals to specialist services ensure that no one is left to struggle alone. The choir becomes a kind of extended family, offering stability in lives that may have known very little of it.
Today, more than 100 members sing with the Sydney Street Choir each week across its three programs. While the choir itself has been active since 2001, the Sydney Street Choir Foundation was established in 2010 to provide the administrative and financial backbone that keeps everything running. Managed by a small volunteer board, the registered charity focuses on one clear mission: using music and community to benefit people experiencing disadvantage.
The impact of the choir has resonated far beyond its own members. Corporate organisations have embraced the Sydney Street Choir’s volunteering workshops as a powerful team-building experience. Instead of trust falls and PowerPoints, employees raise their voices together, discovering empathy, vulnerability and joy in the process. Companies like AMP, Sydney Water, PwC and Macquarie have all taken part, finding that singing side by side can break down barriers in ways few boardroom exercises can.
Young people are part of the picture too. The choir’s high school workshop program, designed for students aged 14 to 18, focuses on self-esteem, self-expression and helping teenagers find their voice in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. It also opens conversations about mental health and homelessness, building understanding alongside musical skills.
Through every rehearsal, workshop and performance, the Sydney Street Choir proves one simple truth: when people sing together, they don’t just make music — they build community, dignity and hope.
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