Kerrie Polkinghorne

Midlife Choirsis

Music EN ↓ 4 episodes

Midlife Choirsis is a celebration of the joy, connection, and magic of choir singing in communities all across the world. Far from being the “poor cousin” of choral music, community choirs are vibrant spaces where people come together to make something extraordinary - in many cases, with little formal training. Each episode uncovers inspiring stories of group music-making, while shining a spotlight on the creativity and skill of a wide variety of directors, leaders, composers and arrangers who bring these voices to life. At its core, the community choir is the beating heart of music-making: j...

Author

Kerrie Polkinghorne

Episodes

Ep4: From Cathedral Choir to World Stage - Playing the Long Game 03.06.2026 43:23

Send us Fan Mail You can feel the difference between a choir that’s technically fine and a choir that communicates every word. That’s the gap we explore with Jonathan Bligh, founder and artistic director of Festival Statesmen Chorus , as he shares the real work behind building a world-class choral sound. We trace Jonathan’s path from boy chorister at St Peter’s Cathedral to scholarships, school en...

Ep3: Make The First Move 26.05.2026 18:16

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 3 we talk about what makes community singing more than a weekly rehearsal and how choirs become places of real support and belonging. We share practical ways to build connections within your choir, collaborate with other groups, and learn from other directors without letting imposter syndrome run the show. • seeing choir community grow and show up in real life support...

Ep2: If You Were Organised You’d Be Dangerous 25.04.2026 51:34

Send us Fan Mail A choir can change your life, but not always in the tidy, planned way you expect. I’m joined by Adelaide-based musician, performer, and choir director Carol Young, and we trace the real-world path that takes her from a childhood where everyone sang in harmony to a working career across classical voice, jazz choir, theatre, teaching, and community music. Carol talks candidly about...

Ep1: Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New 25.04.2026 20:42

Send us Fan Mail We kick off Midlife Choirsis with a clear mission: to celebrate community choir singing as a place for joy, connection, and unity. We share our own winding path into choral directing and make the case for starting before you feel ready, even if you’re going to suck at first. • why we choose the name Midlife Choirsis and what the show stands for • community singing as a practical...