GUESTS AND NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
When was the last time you remembered to dream?
At Choir of High Hopes, we know that every dream needs a partner, and we are committed to partnering with each other to see our dreams fulfilled. Join us on the journey…
Choir of High Hopes: “What does the choir mean to you?”
We asked some of our members to answer a few questions about what the choir means to them. This is what they said…
OUR STORY
Launched in 2007, the Choir of High Hopes Hobart Inc was inspired by Melbourne’s Choir of Hard Knocks.
Founders Jenny Chapman and Helen Todd combined their love of music, compassion, and desire to make a difference in the lives of others by welcoming choir members disadvantaged by homelessness, unemployment, drug and alcohol issues, mental and physical disabilities, injustice, and social and economic isolation.
Our choir has no auditions. No callbacks. If you can sing – and even if you can’t – you will be welcomed. And nurtured.
The Choir of High Hopes is a volunteer-run not-for-profit charity that relies entirely on the financial goodwill of the general and corporate communities for its existence.
Thanks to the altruistic and generous nature of Tasmanians, the choir has been able to provide a safe haven, a place of learning, discovery and tolerance, of improved self esteem and hopes for a brighter future for scores of Hobart’s often disadvantaged citizens.
Thanks to the wonderful generosity of Hobart’s Scot’s Church, we rehearse every Tuesday afternoon for about 90 minutes from 1pm (excepting Christmas Holidays and days when we are performing externally).
We generally perform around 15 small concerts each year at places like school libraries, aged care facilities, corporate events and Christmas celebrations. Our very first performance was singing Christmas carols in the Hobart mall in 2007 and we’ve not missed a year since – it’s our favourite regular gig.
2025 Annual General Meeting
Download the Chairman’s report from our 2025 AGM
OUR VISION, MISSION & VALUES
OUR VISION
The Choir of High Hopes is an open, reliable and safe family that provides an opportunity for disadvantaged Tasmanians to have better lives.
MISSION
Through our music and performance programs we honour the Choir’s Mission, which is: “To enable the recovery of self esteem, personal pride and sense of purpose as members reconnect with community through participation in their choice of regular choir practice, workshops and performances.”
OUR VALUES
- RESPECT – Respect for each other, for staff, volunteers and stakeholders. Investing in the growth and development of individual choir members and the whole community.
- COURAGE – The courage to act to achieve independence and purpose in our lives.
- INCLUSION – We ensure an environment that is inclusive and enabling and recognises the strength of its people.
- INTEGRITY – Open, honest and accountable. We do what we say we will.
OUR MUSIC TEAM
ANDREW SHORT – CO-DIRECTOR
Our popular assistant director Andy first performed at age 8 in Pippin and has since amassed dozens of opera and music theatre credits in many UK and Australian shows, including Marius in Les Miserables, Alex in Aspects of Love and Fakir in Secret Garden.
Other credits include Side by Side by Sondheim, Guys and Dolls and the operas Cosi Fan Tutte and La Cenerentola which toured with Opera Australia.
During his decade in the UK Andy gained a Masters of Performance from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.
Andrew most recently appeared as Freddy in My Fair Lady and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera at Hobart’s Theatre Royal.
KIERAN SLICER – CO-DIRECTOR / ACCOMPANIST
Kieran Slicer joined the Choir mid 2018 as our principal music maker and has been involved in music for longer than he can remember.
His passion for music saw him complete a Bachelor of Musical Arts, as well as recently obtaining an AMus in singing under the tutelage of Helen Todd, a co-founder of the Choir of High Hopes.
Alongside private piano and singing teaching, Kieran has turned his personal focus back to keyboard, working alongside musical director Andrew Short to accompany the Choir of High Hopes and the Lindisfarne Riverside Arts Club Choir.
Kieran also accompanies the recently formed Hobart City Council choir with music director Joan Wright.
OUR BOARD
ANGELA PERCY – CHAIR
Angela is a Senior Program Manager at Homes Tasmania where she has worked for 20 years in various roles. Angela has a heart for social justice and previously worked in the not-for-profit sector.
Angela is a keen cook and her happy place is in the kitchen baking. Family is very important to Angela and she loves teaching her great nieces and nephews how to cook and spending time with them making arts and crafts. She is also a member of a dart team and volunteers for two other charities.
Angela has been a part of the Choir family since very early in its first year and after a recent break, has re-joined the Board and is eager to continue to be a part of their magnificent adventures.
DAVID ROSE – DEPUTY CHAIR
David is an experienced journalist, broadcaster, marketer, major-events MC and senior manager of more than 30 years experience. He’s been a CoHH Board member for ten years, five of those as Chair. In 2026 he har returned to the Board as Deputy Chair.
Apart from the Choir, David’s major interest is Motorsports – he’s a long-time national and international motorsports commentator. He was drummer in bands and both his adult children are musicians and vocalists.
SARAH KIMBER – SECRETARY (on leave)
Sarah is Legal Counsel with an international aquaculture organisation. She joined the Board in 2019 and has already used her legal skills to re-draft the choir’s Constitution, adopted in 2021.
ANDREW CLIFFORD – TREASURER
Andrew has a professional background in accounting and business, having owned and operated an accounting practice for over 20 years.
In addition to his work with the choir, he has been involved in local community charity initiatives, including partnerships that supported projects benefiting children and families affected by cancer in Tasmania.
His engagement reflects a long-standing commitment to supporting community welfare and not-for-profit fundraising.
JOHANNA VAN TIENEN – GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
Johanna served as the Music Director for Choir of High Hopes from mid 2018-2024. She has strong credentials both as a composer and conductor, making her public conducting debut at age 17, soon after was conducting the 200-strong chorus of Cats (Exitleft Productions) as Assistant Chorusmaster.
Johanna has worked with many Hobart choirs and is actively involved in Hobart’s choral music scene. Johanna has an AMusA in piano and a Bachelor of Music in composition.
SHAAN MYALL – GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
Shaan is an experienced business administrator and people manager who owns SILK Laser Clinics Hobart. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science and an MBA majoring in International Business.
Shaan has a passion for the arts having worked professionally as a dancer, performer, choreographer and teacher in the Northern Territory and South Australia. She feels strongly about connecting people through the arts and nurturing their journey.
EDWIN JOHNSTONE – GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
Edwin is an experienced board member currently serving as Chair of the Confederation of Greater Hobart Business (CGHB), where he represents and advocates for many small businesses.
He holds a Bachelor of Computing from UTAS and has over two decades of experience as a small business owner, with a professional background in communications and IT.
JENN LUCAS – GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
MARILENA DI FLORIO – GENERAL BOARD MEMBER