Author Archives: choir webmaster

The first get together for Term 1 this year is at 2 pm on Wednesday 27 January in the Bates Hall, corner of the Great Western Highway and Gardners Crescent Blackheath. All very welcome.

The gig will go ahead as the forecast is now for less rain! Please assemble at 10.30 (warmed up) outside Belle Property Blue Mountains, just under half way down the Mall on the left hand side as you walk away … Continue reading →

Please note that Chris & Mick are away next Wednesday, 21 Sep. Our next rehearsal is 2pm in Bates Hall on 28 September.

Flow state, exercise and healthy ageing: 5 unexpected benefits of singing

Wednesday 02 March, 2-4pm Phillips Hall Choristers need to be fully vaccinated, masks unnecessary but optional

We have decided to postpone our start date to Wednesday 2 March 2022 but will review the situation with COVID and verify or update that information closer to that time.

We’re back in the singing business! Two rehearsals for this performance, the first on Wed 01 Dec and the second on Wed 08 Dec, both rehearsals in the Phillips Hall 2-4pm.

We move to new premises this term. From Wednesday April 22 we rehearse in the Presbyterian Church Hall on Wentworth St from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Please note the new times, half an hour earlier than previously. For those unfamiliar with … Continue reading →

We hope to start rehearsals on Wednesday 3 February at the usual time, 2-4pm. At this stage government regulations restrict us to outdoor rehearsals, which are of course weather dependent. Please ensure you are on our email list to keep … Continue reading →

An enthusiastic group of 45 choristers turned up for our first physical gathering for 9 months due to COVID restrictions. We start next year on Wednesday 27 January. Could new and returning singers please advise Christine so she can add … Continue reading →

Chris has checked out the newly renovated Bates Hall – that’s the small hall in the Blackheath community centre, nearest to the Great Western Highway.  Its looking very smart after its new makeover (thanks Linda and the Hall committee) and … Continue reading →

Wow! What a fabulous afternoon. The wonderful MC, Phil Koperberg, launched the afternoon with great humour and a glowing introduction of The Heathens. Check out the photos here. Our first set included Ataturk Tribute which we were a little nervous … Continue reading →

Sydney Street Choir meets Blackheath’s community choir, The Heathens for a shared performance in Springwood on Saturday 11 April. Sydney Street Choir was formed in 2001 to connect with, inspire and empower homeless or disadvantaged people. For many of its … Continue reading →

As you can see…we have out-grown our rehearsal space at Banc so from now on rehearsals will be held at the Uniting Church hall in Govetts Leap Road (walk down the drive past the church and through a gate to … Continue reading →

Some folks are saying they’d find it much easier to pay by the term, and of course we can accommodate that. We’ll just keep a note of who’s paid up front. If you’d like to pay for the rest of … Continue reading →

If you haven’t got your copy … The Heathens Book is available to buy for only $10 at Banc. It is a beautiful collection of stories of the lives of the choir members. Each story is magical, unique and generously … Continue reading →

Jan writes … We certainly spread the happiness at Morven Gardens yesterday. The residents loved our visit. The book launch and party  at Chris and Mick’s was, despite the noise of the torrential downpours drowning out our singing, a  fun … Continue reading →

“May your voices take springs there where fire burns. May your songs put roses there where battlefields lay. Open furrow and sow love to harvest fruits of hope. Sing to liberty where despot rule, Sing to equality where poverty nests, … Continue reading →

The Blackheath and District Horticulture Society have invited us back to perform at the Flower and Craft show next year.  Julie O’Keeffe wrote to Chris that “The Heathen’s performance at our show this year in early September was so enjoyed … Continue reading →

Jan writes … So enjoyed the revue last night and particularly all those “Heathens” who performed!  We are very lucky  Heathens to be surrounded by such talent. What did touch me though was our Bella singing “Follow the Heron Home” … Continue reading →

Monday 27th October Meet at the Presbyterian Church at 5:45pm for warm up and short rehearsal.  We perform at or soon after 6pm.  Please wear the usual colours purple, red and black. See you all then 🙂

The flags flying above you were made during the school holiday art workshops by children from Blackheath and Mount Victoria. Thanks from Jo at BANC

Last week we looked at three different types of progression which you can follow in the music, even if you don’t actually read music. The simplest progression is a musical scale where the notes move from space-to-line and line-to-space and … Continue reading →

I hope you all found the first little tutorial yesterday useful. Unless I am democratically overruled 😉 I will try to give a little musicology snippet at the start of each rehearsal. Once you understand your own musical range it … Continue reading →

Mick writes that we have just learnt of the passing of one of our early Heathens, Bob Rowe, after a long battle with brain tumour that caused him to go blind. Bob was a pianist and singer who became more … Continue reading →

All good things come to an end.  Frank has shared with us how singing makes you healthy, helps you to stay well and helps you to heal; how it makes you happy; and how its good for your baby (or … Continue reading →

From Rob: Well it’s over!!!! for another four years. For some the Soccer World Cup is an event not to me missed with long sleepless nights whilst agonising over the progress of a favoured team, while for others is all … Continue reading →

Talking of singing and healing … There was a great documentary on ABC a few nights ago: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/stories/2014/06/05/4019554.htm Catch it while you can.  The TedX talk will probably survive online a little longer: http://tedxsydney.com/LIVE/?s=75#&panel1-1