Soul Song Gawler launched in November 2024 with an afternoon workshop, followed by a 5 week taster pop up choir and we're expanding to three choirs in Adelaide from January 2025.

The Gawler and Adelaide choirs are part of a network of community pop choirs across Australia who meet for the joy of singing and the love of community.  While you'll be part of a thriving local community, you'll also have the opportunity for regional, interstate and international travel and exciting projects with over 500 members across Australia if that's something that excites you!

NB: Although you will be asked to nominate a 'core' choir when you join, you are welcome to 'mix and match' rehearsals across any of our Adelaide or even intra/interstate choirs.  IE, you can attend Walkerville one week and then Payneham the following week. Or you can even attend more than one rehearsal per week, for just the one price.  While the choirs have different directors, each group covers the same songs each week. 
 

THE DIRECTORS

The Walkerville and Payneham choirs are directed by Cindy-Anne Macdonald, while Gawler's Musical Director is Brianna Teehan.  You can get to know them here.

 

THE REHEARSAL EXPERIENCE

Our Adelaide groups rehearse pretty much every week, although we do take the odd week off during school holidays so please check the calendar to make sure there's a rehearsal on before you come along.

New members are welcome at any time and your first rehearsal is always free so you can check us out without obligation.  If you want to know more before coming along, you can give Jaq a call first on 0412 255 587 or flick her an email if it will help with the first rehearsal nerves. But otherwise, you're welcome just to turn up. Bring your sense of adventure and we'll take care of the rest!

At Walkerville and Gawler, the singing starts at 6.30pm but doors opens from 6.00pm so you're welcome to come in a bit early.  Rehearsals go through until 8.30pm.   There is great food avaialable at both pubs if you want to grab a meal first and you're more than welcome to buy a drink at the bar and bring it into the rehearsal room.

At Payneham, the doors will open around midday for a 12.30-2.30pm rehearsal.

At a typical rehearsal, we will do some fun warm ups before working on two songs and finishing with a celebratory song at the end of the session known as the Soulster Parade.

Those who come the most often get the most out of Soul Song but there is no expectation for people to come every single week and we have lots of resources available for those who miss a week or two to help them catch up if they want to.  You'll get more information on this when you join, but these include audio learning tracks, video tutorials, sheet music, technical tutorials and more.

We will give you a member pack and all the lyrics you need once you've signed up. Then each week when you come, you just need to bring some water, a highlighter, pen or pencil, your lyric book and reading glasses if you're of that kind of age!
 

IMPORTANT STUFF ABOUT COMING TO REHEARSALS

WHEN AND WHERE:

  • Walkerville -  Tuesdays, 6.30-8.30pm at the Walkers Arms Hotel, 36 North East Road, Walkerville
  • Gawler - Thursdays, 6.30-8.30pm at The Loft, Gawler Arms Hotel, 102 Murray Street, Gawler
  • Payneham - Fridays 12.30-2.30pm at the Payneham Community Centre, 374 Payneham Road, Payneham
  • As each group learns the same repertoire, members can attend any rehearsal in a given week, or even multiple if they want. Geebung, West End and Bulimba rehearsals are also live streamed in case you are not able to get there in person and subscription members have access to watch these rehearsal back at a later date.
  • For those with accessibility requirements, all of our rehearsal venues are wheelchair accessible. We do recommend that you give us a call before coming along though just to make sure we're expecting you and can make your arrival as easy as possible.

FEES:

  • Your first rehearsal is free so you can come along and check us out without obligation!
  • Once your fees are paid, you can attend as many rehearsals a week online or in person as you want
  • Fees can be paid by the term or on a weekly basis, via an automated recurring subscription
  • Term fees are $205 standard or $133 concession
  • Weekly fees are $18 standard or $12 concession
  • Concession rates apply to students, concession card holders, pensioners etc
  • Should paying full, or even partial fees be a barrier to you joining, please get in touch as we have some bursaries available to help cover fees where required.

Please note:

  • Term payments - there are no refunds for unused rehearsals, however, you can switch between term payments and weekly payments each term so if you know that you're going to miss a chunk of rehearsals in any given term. you might want to pay weekly that term.
  • Weekly payments -
    • this is an automated weekly payment, that will be charged on the same day each week. 
    • weekly payments are paid regardless of whether you attend rehearsal that week
    • if you're not able to attend your regular rehearsal in person on any given week, you are able to attend an alternate rehearsal in person or online, watch a rehearsal recording or watch a video tutorial - so you don't need to miss out
    • if you know you are going to be away for more than two weeks at a time, you can pause your weekly subscription until you return, without affecting your access to resources and emails etc. It can also be cancelled at any time if you don't want to continue your membership.  Please note that the subscription payments can't be turned on and off on a weekly basis depending on whether or not you'll be attending. It's like any subscription membership to a gym or fitness classes etc. 
  • It's possible to switch between memberships at the start of each term as required
  • You can view all the membership inclusions and read more about the two different types of membership here: https://www.soulsongchoirs.com.au/fees
 

TERM DATES:

We rehearse almost every week of the year, starting from w/c 13 January 2025.  This year's term dates are:
  • Term 1: 13 January - 11 April. No rehearsals w/c 14 April
  • Term 2: 21 April - 27 June, No rehearsals w/c 30 June
  • Term 3: 7 July - 19 September, No break
  • Term 4: 22 September - 12 December