Dylan J Stone
Are you a singer? Maybe you’ve been in choirs before? But even if you are only a keen and vocal shower singer, the Broken Hill Philharmonic Choir would love to hear from you.
The Choir was established in 1934, and barring the interruptions of WW2 and the global Covid pandemic, “we have been singing away ever since,” says the Philharmonic’s musical director, Diane Magor, who has held the role since 2007 and been involved in the choir for 40 years.
“I completed a music degree and graduated about 10 years ago, after I left full time work,” Mrs Magor said, “and when I finished full-time work, I needed something to put my mind to.”
Even as the community generally moves on from the worst of Covid, Mrs Magor is concerned because she says, “it has been hard to get people back as well as new people into the Choir”.
“When I’m speaking to Choir people from around the country, they are telling me the same story,” she says, but adds it is a trend that must be reversed in Broken Hill to ensure the Philharmonic Choir remains strong into the future.
“We simply don’t know what our numbers will be until we start back, but if we maintain the same numbers as last year, we will be looking at about 19 or 20 people.”
While this sounds promising, Mrs Magor reckons, “we want to be looking at between 25 and 30 people, and 35 people would be our best goal.”
The Choir’s first rehearsal for 2023 will be at 7.30pm on Monday February 6, at the Aged Persons Rest Centre – behind the Civic Centre – in Blende St. The weekly rehearsals allow the Choir to prepare for their concerts, with two-to-three concerts performed by the Choir annually.
“This gives us about three months of rehearsals before a concert, and with two hours a week of rehearsals, we can make sure we get plenty of practice in before our performances,” Mrs Magor said.
Mrs Magor says there are many benefits of joining the Choir, such as, “the wonderful benefits signing has for your physical and mental health, as the lungs and brain are exercised,” as well as the social interaction which comes with being part of the Choir.
Anyone who would like any more information can call Diane Magor on 0418 851 076, and in Mrs Magor’s own words, “it really is a wonderful group to be part of, and we will welcome anyone who would like to join the Choir”.
