I hope this finds you all well and enjoying your singing on these chilly Winter nights.
I thought I’d just email you to let you know (if you haven’t heard already) that I’lm running a series of rehearsals starting this Sat July 19, 2025 from 10am – 5pm at Choral House (Toowoomba Choral Society’s rehearsal venue) 
for our forthcoming concert at the magnificent QPAC Concert Hall on Sun Nov 9, 2025 entitled:
The Greatest Show Choir!

You guessed it – the repertoire is Broadway musicals 🙂

The rehearsals are also an opportunity for PD as a lot of my work is focused on vocal technique – no matter what the repertoire is.

This project is a collaboration with QPAC and my arts charity – Play It Forward, to help support music making and choral singing in regional areas of Qld with the opportunity to perform in our premiere performance space in Brisbane (it’s nowhere as beautiful as your Empire Theatre – I confess).

I be grateful if you would be able to help spread the word amongst the wonderful Darling Downs community – here’s a link with all the details for those who are interested:

www.playitforward.org.au/events/tgsctoowoomba

Many thanks for your time – I really appreciate your support and wish you all the best with your own joyful singing!

Jonathon Welch AM
Founding Artistic Director 
Play It Forward
www.playitforward.org.au

Our rehearsals will start again this Tuesday 15th – usual time and place – 6.45pm for 7pm @ DeMolay. Pretend it isn’t cold and come on out and warm up by singing with friends. Bring all your recent music and Caroline will surprise us.

Some dates coming up this term – Drayton Villas concert Sunday 10th August & Spring Sing with James Cuskelly in Stanthorpe Sunday 28th September. Pop the dates in your diary now 🙂

Enjoy a little Winter break and see you back in the new term starting Tuesday 15th July. What a fabulous little concert we had last Saturday with many thanks to Caroline (entertainer extraordinaire), Deborah (for making us sound so good!) and the amazing valve-pressing Drayton Brass.

Meantime there is plenty of music to be had around Toowoomba and here is a great opportunity to sing. This invitation has been sent to Choirbolical from Elaine Coates:

Expression of Interest – ONSTAGE CHORUS OPPORTUNITY – Perfectly Imperfect at Armitage Centre, 19th July, 2025

Fresh from the Adelaide Festival, Perfectly Imperfect is offering local adult singers the opportunity to be their onstage chorus.

Blind singer and The Voice Australia sensation Julee-anne Bell in collaboration with pianist Melissa Buchholz present this inspiring show subtitled ‘Songs and Stories of Life, Love and Laughter’. This sets the pretext for a warm, intimate show ant gives an insight into the lives of both artists in a truly special way. Julee-anne’s sensational vocals will touch your soul and leave the audience wanting more, while Melissa’s dazzling skills on the keys will equally amaze concert goers. Both have lived lives that have had many challenges but they have overcome them and are living inspirations. This concert will not only entertain but will leave a lasting impression.

In Toowoomba, Elaine Coates is coordinating the singers. There are 5 songs sung in parts – all well-known songs like Bridge Over Troubled Water and Make Your Own Kind of Music.

Elaine will be taking a familiarisation rehearsal on Monday 7th July at 5.30pm and Julee-anne will present a workshop rehearsal on Saturday 12 July at 10am (venues to be advised). Learning tracks for parts will be available.

Eligibility for participating – buy a ticket to the show through the Empire Theatre prior to first rehearsal. Perfectly Imperfect – Empire Theatre

And email Elaine your interest: name; contact details; choral experience (e.g. a fabulous Choirbolical singer!) and voice part (SATB) [email protected]

For those unable to download the Song list so you can have the 3 brackets of music in order, here it is:

Set 1 – Riversong, At This Table, All the Pretty Horses, The Journey, Wild Mountain Thyme

Set 2 – Dream Keeper, Bring Me Sunshine,

Combined Song – Sweet Caroline

On Saturday a pre-concert band and choir rehearsal will be 3.15 – 3.50pm.

Then 4.30pm concert as advertised on the beautiful Voices, Valves and Vibes poster.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Caroline, whose 100year old mum passed away this past week. Caroline will be coming to the rehearsal and concert after a very big week.

This coming Tuesday evening (17th) @ 6.45pm – 8.30pm will be our final rehearsal before the combined concert. All the details and music order can be found in the previous post. Looking forward to a great concert with family and friends on Saturday afternoon 21st – 4pm. Details about the dinner following the concert will be discussed at the rehearsal.

Following up the invitation from Brisbane choir – SongShine to join them for a choir camp, the dates have been postponed until October as many of their own choir could not make the July date. We are cordially invited to join and details will follow early next term.

Please share the poster with friends and family for our upcoming concert. And see attached the running sheet for concert items. Looking like a most enjoyable afternoon of music. And all welcome to stay on for our social get together after at the Drayton pub.

Thankyou to Lesley who worked hard with us at the last rehearsal – and don’t forget to do a little home practice before our final rehearsal next week.

Congratulations to The Accidentals on an amazing show last week – including several of our Choirbolical musical directors!!!

Here is an invitation from a Brisbane community choir that looks fabulous. If you are interested please make contact ASAP with your expression of interest as they hope to finalise their anticipated numbers next week. Greg who is organising the camp would love us to share in this weekend.

Dear Choirbolical 

I’m writing on behalf of Songshine Choir – a similar community choir to yours that meets weekly in Brisbane. https://www.songshinechoir.org/

As part of our tradition, we have an annual weekend get-away (Choir Camp!), where we have singing workshops, laugh a lot, eat a lot, and go for walks – with a campfire sing-along at night. This is usually led by our main conductor, but usually also including guest conductors. This year our guest conductor it’s the fabulous Imogen Wolf from Lismore https://www.facebook.com/ImogenWolfSongMusic/

This year we are going to the PCYC venue ‘Bornhoffen’ – in the Numinbah Valley in the Gold Coast hinterland. https://www.pcyc.org.au/youth-and-community/leadership-development-centres/bornhoffen-leadership-learning-development-centre/

We often meet several times / year with other choirs in Brisbane to share singing workshops and performances. This email is to extend an invitation to any interested members to join with us for the camp. We’re not strangers! I am friends with a number of Choirbolical folk and Deb and Michael used to be in Songshine before moving to Toowoomba.

Dates: 9am Saturday 12 July to 1pm Sunday

Arrival: Many will arrive Friday evening for dinner (we pay for a 2 night minimum anyway)

Catering: We self-cater and share around the food preparation tasks

Cost: as there are fixed costs (for venue and conductors), per person will vary according to numbers. If we have 20 people the cost will be around $170pp, or if we have 25 it will be around $140pp (excl food)

Program: 4 mini choral workshops /on Saturday (interspersed with morning / afternoon tea and lunch) and probably 2 sessions on Sunday, followed by early lunch and depart by 1pm

Please contact me with any questions etc

Greg Oliver

0413 055 703

[email protected]

This coming Tuesday will be our usual rehearsal. 6.45pm for 7pm. See the last post for music. We are looking forward to having Lesley as our musical director for the night while Caroline ‘bumps in’ for the Empire show this week “Things left in books” with the Accidentals – tickets available for Wednesday & Thursday nights!

On a sad note we have lost one of our most loyal fans and groupie, Bruce Stewart. Bruce has been to every concert and performance for years and years, from Tasmania to Tenterfield to our most recent concert afternoon. Margaret would like Choirbolical members to know you are welcome to attend his funeral at St David’s Presbyterian Church, Mary St Mt Lofty on Monday June 2nd at 11.30am.

Tuesday May 20th – 6.45pm for a 7pm start. Look forward to seeing everyone there. When you sign in could you also please indicate your intentions for coming along to the upcoming combined concert with Drayton Brass Band – Saturday June 21st – 4pm at Drayton Hall and dinner after at the Drayton pub for those who can.

Knowing your intentions now will greatly assist Caroline in planning the repertoire. So far on the list are some favourites and some new music – something for everyone to join in:

All the Pretty Horses; Riversong; Dream Keeper; At this Table; Bring me Sunshine; The Journey; Wild Mountain Thyme.

Firstly, a note from Caroline:

The Accidentals – an extraordinary group of singers and instrumentalists, are presenting ‘Things Left in Books’ at the Empire Church Theatre on Wednesday 4th June and Thursday 5th June, 7:30 pm.

The Accidentals will take you on a musical journey of memories, nostalgia, curiosity and joy as they tell the story of the things they have found left in books. A unique concert which will beguile you with both music and storytelling. Bookings now open.:  https://empiretheatre.com.au/whats-on/things-left-in-books

The Accidentals are part of the Toowoomba Municipal Band organisation. We encourage you to support them – you won’t regret it!

Secondly, see below information from James Cuskelly about the singing event in September which we will register for as a group.

Finally, don’t forget to put our own date claimer into your diaries for an afternoon, evening of music and fun on June 21st. Don’t get the winter blues – come along to rehearsals and warm your evenings up !! A few rehearsals to go – you can do it 🙂

Sing. Learn. Connect. All Together Now! All Together Now is a joyful, high-energy music event coming to Stanthorpe this September, designed to ignite the love of music in both kids and adults alike! Whether you’re a budding young musician or simply love to sing, this is your chance to be part of something truly special.   The event features an uplifting Community Singing Day, open to everyone, no matter your experience level. Alongside this, student music workshop sessions will inspire and challenge young performers in a fun, supportive environment.   Best of all, participants will learn from internationally acclaimed music educators, including the charismatic Pete Churchill (UK), the brilliant Lucinda Geoghegan (Scotland), and Australia’s own master educators, Dr. James Cuskelly and Andrew Pennay. Their passion, energy, and expertise promise an unforgettable musical experience for all!   All Together Now is more than a workshop — it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and the power of making music together. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the magic in the heart of Stanthorpe!

WHEN Sunday, 28 September 2025 WHERE St Joseph’s School, Stanthorpe REGISTRATION Registrations are now open! Visit http://bit.ly/AllTogetherNowCCM for details. We hope to see you in September!