Choir still on a high

Sarah McRae, Ocean Stevens and Emma Nguyen are three of the members from the new Pure Melodics Junior Choir, based in Berwick.

By LACHLAN MOORHEAD

A NEW Casey children’s choir, which started up earlier this year, continues to rise in popularity.
The Pure Melodics Junior Choir, based in Berwick, was set up in May by friends Michelle Hansen and Helen Ryan, the former acting as the group’s accompanist and the latter as the musical director.
The choir’s next performance will be on Sunday 16 November at Berwick Secondary College, where the group will sing a variety of Disney classics.
“It started with a friend of mine, Helen Ryan, she was a music teacher at a local primary school,” Ms Hansen said.
“She’s been singing for a very long time. Between the pair of us we thought there’s no reason we can’t start a choir.
“So we got together and started it up. We advertised at local primary schools, with the age range from eight to 12 and as the choir grows we want to expand into older age groups.”
Earlier this month the 16-person choir performed at the Springtime Choral Concert with local choir Just Harmony as well as the Carella Choir from Beaumaris.
Ms Hansen said the new choir showed there was room for another impressive musical group in Casey.
“We’re a different style of choir, we’re looking at doing not just pure singing but having some fun, learning music and being able to have fun,” she said.
“This means there will be a little bit of acting, a little bit of movement and a little bit of dance,
“Traditionally choir performances are quite still performances – we want our kids to express themselves.”
The Pure Melodics Junior Choir is a not-for-profit group and is also now a registered organisation.
The Disney Classics concert will run from 2pm to 4pm and tickets will cost children and students $5, concession card holders $10, and adults $15.
Tickets are available at www.trybooking.com/GBML, and for more information contact Ms Ryan on 0401 422 607.