Sophie Conlon
After celebrating 90 years in 2023, the Mount Gambier Choral Society is at risk of folding due to a lack of members.
Society president Cathryn Rochow has put the call out for new members ahead of the annual general meeting (AGM) to join in hopes of saving the group.
Currently the group has about six members, but Ms Rochow said they would need to see the number of participants at least double to be viable.
“If we cannot manage to find new persons within at least the next two or three weeks we’re going to have to make some serious decisions,” she said.
“It’s very hard to keep things rolling when there’s not enough of you.”
Ms Rochow said anyone was welcome to join the group and there was no requirement for auditions or to be a talented singer.
“If you think you’ve got something to give this town and you haven’t stepped out, come and join with us because we’re not only a singing group, we are social,” she said.
“We’re welcoming to almost anyone but the name of the game is we want to keep going.”
She said she was happy to support and uplift people who wanted to learn more about singing through the group.
With more members, Ms Rochow said the group would have a better sound and more opportunity.
“When we know we’ve got a boulder sound, then we’d be happy with what we’re doing,” she said.
The group sings a mix of genres, including everything from pop to Irish, but Ms Rochow said they were focusing on songs about friendship at the moment.
“It’s quite an eclectic mix, but I happen to think it’s not a bad combination,” she said.
While group members meet each week during school terms, they also perform a variety of concerts through the year.
Ms Rochow said she particularly enjoyed the concerts they put on in local nursing homes.
“We like going, it’s giving back into the community because we are a community group,” she said.
A highlight on the calendar each year was the society joining with the Limestone Coast Symphonic Chorus for the Limestone Coast Symphony Orchestra gala concert.
“That is a brilliant experience for most singers,” she said.
If the group did fold Ms Rochow said there would be “big ramifications” for the Wehl Street Theatre.
“We’re directly linked with the Wehl Street Theatre through an arrangement, the Centre Stage committee,” she said.
“It overlooks everything in there.”
With big plans for 2024 Ms Rochow hoped to see a few new faces and renewed interest in the group ahead of the February 27 AGM.
For more information or to join phone Ms Rochow on 0473 942 279, find the Mount Gambier Choral Society Inc on Facebook, or head along to the AGM at 6pm on February 27 in the classroom behind the Wehl Street Theatre.
