Cessnock’s new community choir, the Undeniably Noisy Project, will kick off with an open night next Wednesday at the Music For Life hall in North Avenue.

“Everyone is welcome, this is a non-audition, community friendly, no commitment choir,” project founder Emmie Hallett said.

“You do not need to be experienced, or be able to read music – it’s about making a joyous noise, not a perfect musical noise.

“It’s less of a traditional choir and more like a fabulous social experience that involves singing.”

The project’s name was borne out of a conversation Ms. Hallett had about the closure of Cessnock Regional Art Gallery earlier this year.

“Someone said, if there is an interest in the arts in our community, it’s got to be undeniably noisy so we know it exists,” she said.

“My work at the gallery and in community development projects has shown me there are so many people in our community who are also hungry for opportunities to get together and do something fun, positive and creative.

“We have fabulous facilities in town, but not many opportunities where people can go and be involved as participants.

“The idea for a community choir grew out of my own yearning for an informal group to sing with and listening to lots of other people saying they wanted ways to get active in the creative and performing arts here in Cessnock.”

Ms. Hallett says choir singing can create a wonderful shared experience, and that the community choir model caters to all levels of experience.

“The community choir model I have adopted is one that is based on group singing, rather that structured harmonies in part,” she said.

“It allows experienced and inexperienced singers to learn the song quickly and easily and makes it simple for improvisation to happen organically in the group.

“This makes it a very special experience to be part of, and because it depends on who is there on the night, each time the group sings it will sound a bit different.

“Think of it more as a regular sing along event rather than a choir practice.

“This model is rapidly gaining popularity in the UK and Canada and I’m going to give it a little Cessnock twist to make something uniquely ours.”

The community choir is all about participation, so the first open night and sing-along will be free to attend, and after that it will be entry by donation each week.

Chord charts and lyrics will be provided and participants are welcome to bring their own instruments. 

Each session will include warming up the voice and some fun technical group activities, learning the main song of the night and a cool down (such as revisiting an old favourite song, or a guided improvisation piece or ‘vocal jam’).

A cup of tea and light supper will be available.

The open night will run from 7pm to 8.30pm at Music For Life (22 North Avenue, Cessnock). Call Emmie on 0412 835 865 or message The Undeniably Noisy Project on Facebook for more information.