Cantabile Music: Sutherland Shire Children's Choir

Develop your singing voice in an atmosphere of fun and encouragement.

Sutherland Shire Children’s Choir offers quality choral instruction, lead by highly qualified, experienced and enthusiastic teachers. There is a conductor and accompanist present at each rehearsal.

Children begin their experience with the choir when they are in yr 1 or above and progress until the end of secondary school. Children of preschool or kindergarten age are encouraged to participate in the Sutherland Shire Early Childhood Music programme.

The Sutherland Shire Children’s Choir programme is designed to develop each child’s natural singing voice. The choristers learn correct vocal technique and breathing. Their musical skills improve as they participate in aural training and music reading activities. In an atmosphere of fun and encouragement, the singers gain the talent and confidence to perform. They develop self-esteem, confidence and social skills.

Rehearsals are held weekly for an hour during school terms at the Sutherland Pensioner's Centre. Children rehearse in a group with others who are of a similar age and level of development. The last rehearsal of every term is open for parents to watch so that they can see their child in action.

All of our choristers take part in our mid year 'Winter Showcase Concert' and end of year 'Annual Concert'. Concert venues are located locally. By performing with their level group as well as in the massed songs, choristers feel comfortable performing on stage even at a very young age and find the concert experience to be a lot of fun!

How to Join

Prospective members are invited to attend a final audition. All students who are successful in the audition are invited to attend a free trial choir rehearsal. There is no cost or obligation.

Final auditions take approximately 10 minutes. The auditions take place in a non-threatening and supportive environment. The conductor teaches some simple vocal activities and a short song. The children sing together in a group. This enables Cantabile Music to assess each child’s suitability for the choir and to group new members with children who are at a similar level of development. No individual singing is required and there is no need to prepare anything for the audition.

Parents are advised in writing of the outcome of the audition with information about how to enrol. All students who are successful in the audition are invited to attend a free trial choir rehearsal. The session is fun and gives the child a real taste of the activities that we offer and an indication of what weekly rehearsals are like.

The audition and free trial rehearsal are informative for parents who are invited to watch.