- Sydney Street Choir, Australia's longest-running street choir for disadvantaged people, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a free concert on the Sydney Opera House steps at 12.30pm on Wednesday 1 April
- Founded in 2001 by Jonathon Welch AM, the choir provides weekly rehearsals and performances while connecting members to social services and support
- In 2025, the choir held 48 rehearsals and 29 performances with over 60 members, with most reporting improved mood and wellbeing
- The anniversary concert will feature a new single A Little Bit of Kindness and include performances from past and present members and directors
- The event will launch the 25 for 25 fundraising campaign to support ongoing choir activities and social welfare services
1 APRIL 2026
25 YEARS OF MUSIC AND CONNECTION: CHOIR BRINGS HOPE TO SYDNEY’S MOST VULNERABLE
Australia’s longest-running street choir will take to the iconic steps of the Sydney Opera House next month to mark 25 years of transforming lives through music.
The Sydney Street Choir, a group for people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and social isolation, will bring together past and present members for a special lunchtime concert to launch its new single, A Little Bit of Kindness.
The celebration marks a major milestone of building connection, confidence and community through song as loneliness and social isolation continue to affect around one in four Australians.
“For many of our members, the choir is more than singing,” Sydney Street Choir Foundation Chair Anna Dear said.
“It’s a place where people who have been pushed to the margins find belonging again.”
New members can arrive feeling isolated and unsure of themselves, Ms Dear said. But over time, they “stand taller, sing louder, and realise they’re part of something that values them, forming friendships that last a lifetime.”
Founded in 2001 by Australian performer and social advocate Jonathon Welch AM, the choir provides weekly rehearsals, performances and tours that offer members structure, creative expression, and a renewed sense of identity. Beyond music, it acts as a bridge to social services, helping members access housing support, legal assistance, health care and food packages.
In 2025, the choir held 48 rehearsals and 29 performances with more than 60 members participating. Nearly all members reported that connecting with fellow singers improved their mood and overall wellbeing.
The choir’s work has been supported for more than a decade by the PAYCE Foundation, which backs initiatives that strengthen communities and support people experiencing disadvantage.
PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said the choir demonstrated the extraordinary impact of community and connection, and the need to address the impacts of social isolation.
“The Sydney Street Choir shows how something as simple as singing together can rebuild confidence, create friendships, and give people a renewed sense of purpose,” Mr Sullivan said.
“For 25 years it has provided a safe and welcoming community for people who may otherwise feel invisible. PAYCE Foundation is proud to support the choir’s work and the lasting difference it makes.”
The anniversary concert will feature performances and stories from choir members, alongside current and former musical and social directors including Suze Pratten, Mary Kiani, Dave Richardson and Leonie Oakes. The Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Beazley AC KC, will be in attendance.
The concert will open with a musical Acknowledgement of Country performed by First Nations composer, and Australia’s leading didgeridoo player, William Barton, alongside the choir.
The new single, A Little Bit of Kindness, was written and donated to the choir by music producer and dedicated community volunteer Chris Lake, recipient of the 2024 NSW Government Community Service Award, as a gift to mark the choir's landmark anniversary.
The event will also launch the choir’s “25 for 25” fundraising campaign to support rehearsals, performances and the social welfare services that underpin the program.
The free public concert will take place Wednesday 1 April from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on the Sydney Opera House steps at Bennelong Point.
To find out more, visit www.sydneystreetchoir.org.au.
Contact details:
Anna Dear
Sydney Street Choir Chair
0404 637 607
Brittany Baker
Boston Public Relations
044 851 6917
