About The Choir
“A chorus of singers is like a company of brothers; the heart is opened, and in the stream of song they feel themselves of one heart and of one mind”
Charles Miller, a violinist who lost three fingers in an industrial accident formed the Petersham Glee Club from a men’s quartet in 1913 and built it up to a popular and disciplined group of thirty singers. By 1919, Charlie renamed the choir as the “Sydney Male Choir” with a major concert in the City of Sydney.
Charlie Miller retired and passed the baton on to Christian Kellerman by 1929. There have been sixteen Musical Directors in SMC’s history. Lyndon Jones led SMC from 1948 until 1974, and Alan Thrift led the Choir from 1990 until 2010.The Choir has sung all genres of music. Purcell, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Wagner and Verdi were listed in various concert programs. Spirituals were also well appreciated, as was music from shows.
In the mid twentieth century, the Sydney Male Choir was frequently very successful in the leading Eisteddfodau in Sydney and its surrounds. The choir also combined with leading singers of the day, with many of these performances being broadcast live on the radio. The final retirement concert with Peter Dawson is possibly the most famous.
Over recent years, in a decade of Sydney Town Hall concerts, the Choir has been joined by the famous Australian jazz artist, Don Burrows, Kamahl, David Hobson, Marina Prior, Michael Cormick, Rachel Beck, Peter Cousins and Yvonne Kenny. As each decade passes, the Choir has adapted its musical styles according to the interests of Musical Directors and appeal to its audiences. However, the Sydney Male Choir has maintained a constant commitment and enthusiasm for high quality choral singing, in which Choristers have taken great pride.
Integral to our psyche, since 1933 the Choir has performed every year at the ANZAC Dawn Service, held in Martin Place, Sydney.
In 2007 the choir undertook a tour of western NSW titled “Mates across the divide”. The aim of this tour was to support local communities suffering a severe and prolonged drought, by both bringing joy through song and raising much needed funds. Since that initial tour the SMC has undertaken regular annual or biannual tours across NSW. All of these tours are funded by the individual members of the choir.
Overseas in April 2013, under the baton of Dr Houston Dunleavy, the Choir managed to still attendees at the pre-dawn official service with its rendition of ‘There is no Death’ at the Australian Villers Bretonneux Service. The Choir was privileged to be the first adult choir in the six-year formal history of this ceremony. The Saturday Service at the Arc de Triomphe on that same tour was a privilege and a milestone in the colourful history of the Choir.
“The Sydney Male Choir has maintained a constant commitment and enthusiasm for high quality choral singing, in which Choristers have taken great pride. ”
SMC sang under the direction of Keiren Brandt-Sawdy from 2016–2020. Keiren, who joined the Choir as Musical Director at age 25, successfully improved our presentation, singing and repertoire, and delivered on our motto of “bringing joy through song”.
In 2022 the choir was invited to participate in Australia’s Got Talent which was televised nationally on Channel 7. It was a major achievement to make the final 16 of the 146 performers who participated. Performing a clever arrangement of “You are so beautiful” in the auditions and a medley of Queen songs in the finals the choir both delighted and surprised the studio, television audiences and judges. Under the direction of Warwick Tyrell our Music Director at that time, the choir made the decision to move to a more contemporary approach in both choice and performance of music.
James Paul is our recently appointed Music Director and brings enthusiasm, energy and a new way of singing to the Choir. With James at the helm and supported by our brilliant accompanist Dr. Brieley Cutting the choir is going through a reinvention phase, musically.
The choir is sixty strong and growing, we sing in four part harmonies with First Tenors , Second Tenors, Baritones and Basses. In any given year we have anywhere between 25 and 30 performances, making us one of the busiest amateur choirs in Australia. Our theme of “We raise you up” recognises the positive impact the choir has in inspiring and uplifting audiences. With a wide range of songs from a diverse genre of music there is something for everyone to enjoy at an SMC concert.
Amongst the choirs key performances are;
Supporting Mark Anthony at Carols in the Domain.
Finalist in 2022 Australia’s Got Talent competition.
Annual Concerts at Sydney Town Hall with various high profile artists.
Regional and interstate tours including Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
Overseas tours including England, Ireland, Wales, France and New Zealand.
Guest choir at the Newcastle Fringe Festival 2024.
Guest choir at the Pirates of the Caribbean Symphonic Production at the International Convention Centre, Sydney 15 June 2024.
Support Us
The Sydney Male Choir is a registered charity for tax purposes and any donations are Tax Deductible.
Please remit your donation to:
Sydney Male Choir, St George Bank BSB:112-879 Account No: 056496711
Choir Executives
President: Gerry Byrne 0417 278397
Treasurer: Ron Brown 0411411127
Secretary: Tom Coghlan 0413107828