Jenan Taylor
18 July 2023
A Boroondara choir is celebrating 19 years as an independent ensemble for the entire community.
Yarra Gospel Community Choir has been meeting and practising at St John’s Camberwell for years, but it has a long reach into the wider population.
Committee member Rosemary Kenny said the choir was a very social group with a large mix of people.
Some were very strong Christians, others weren’t believers at all, and its new musical director was Buddhist, Ms Kenny said.
She said the group sang a wide mix of gospel songs, many of which were made famous by gospel great Aretha Franklin.
It was the universal truths in the songs that appealed to such a broad section of people, Ms Kenny said.
“Caring for one another, doing things together and sharing. That’s what most of the songs are about,” she said.
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Founder and St Mark’s Camberwell parishioner Yvonne Giltinan said she had always wanted the group to be a community choir rather than a church choir.
Ms Giltinan said she was inspired to start it through her own long involvement with gospel choirs.
“I saw all these people coming into church during the week, singing these fabulous gospel songs, but they wouldn’t be going to church on Sunday. And I thought this is a really beautiful way of reaching into the community.”
She said even though several of the choir’s songs were traditionally sung by African American slaves during their trials and tribulations, they resonated with many people.
“Many participants have told me that the songs spoke to them as they went through illnesses, and traumatic experiences. They dwelled in their hearts and minds, and helped console and sustain them,” Ms Giltinan said.
She said often when the group performed people would ask why a white choir from Camberwell was singing those songs.
“I would explain to them that they’re universal and timeless, and they still can speak to you today,” Ms Giltinan said.
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Recently retired from her choir director role, she said some of the highlights included mentoring young people to become conductors, and performing in a range of places, including at the Mission to Seafarers.
Ms Giltinan said raising about $5000 to support menstrual health projects for girls in India, and a similar amount to help set up independent accommodation for women leaving prison in Victoria, were also among the choir’s wins.
She said when she started the choir 19 years ago at Christ Church Hawthorn, it had just four members.
There were 70 regular participants just before COVID hit, Ms Giltinan said.
But Ms Kenny said membership was beginning to climb again, and now about 35 people came to rehearsals most weeks.
She said the committee was intent on growing the numbers again, as they had much planned for the future beyond the anniversary.
Ms Kenny said the choir was rehearsing for concerts in September and October, Christmas performances for churches in Surrey Hills, Box Hill and Camberwell, and hoped to stage a Revival gospel concert early next year.
The Yarra Gospel Community Choir will turn 19 on 17 August. It will mark its anniversary with a high tea for past and present members and guests, and there will, of course, be singing.
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