“The choir helps me get up in the morning... not just on Tuesdays, but every day of the week.”
“Coming to the choir... I realised I was accepted, I could try, and fail; I could succeed!”
THE CHOIR OF HIGH HOPES
Join our rehearsals!
The choir rehearses Tuesday afternoons 1pm-2.30pm at the Scot’s Memorial Church Hall at
29 Bathurst Street. We break in late December after our traditional Christmas Carols concert in the Hobart Mall, and resume rehearsals in early February.
Guests and new members are always welcome.
Take a look at our calendar here for further information on where to find us…
Contact us by sending an email to choirofhighhopes@gmail.com.
OUR STORY
Launched in 1997, 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 finish with a yummy afternoon tea provided by the Foodbank and prepared and served by our fantastic volunteers.
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.
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.
Click the video links below for a little more information about who we are and some of our choir members’ stories.
These videos have been produced by Justin "Pyrate" Wildsmith with assistance from the Lyone Foundation.
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 team
OUR MUSIC TEAM
JOHANNA VAN TIENEN
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Johanna took over as our Music Director mid 2018 with strong credentials as a composer and conductor. She made her public conducting debut at age 17 and 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 with the Lindisfarne Riverside Arts Club as well as us!
She conducted the UTAS production of The Little Sweep and was Assistant Conductor for UTAS's The Magic Flute.
Johanna has an AMus in piano and Bachelor of Music in composition.
ANDREW SHORT
ASSISTANT 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
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 Johanna 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
MIRIAM RULE
CHAIR
Miriam joined the Board in 2020, became Vice President in 2022 and now holds the position of Chair. She is a marketing, communications and events professional with almost two decades across the public and private sectors both in Tasmania and Internationally.
She holds a Master of Business and a Combined Degree in Arts and Commerce, majoring in Journalism and Marketing.
She has a strong interest in social justice and mental health advocacy. Having been raised in a musical family she is highly supportive of the arts as an avenue to support those experiencing disadvantage.
ANDREW CLIFFORD
TREASURER
THOMAS MCCARROLL-CHESTER
DEPUTY CHAIR/SECRETARY
Thom is an experienced Business Analyst and people manager currently working in the Disability Support sector on IT projects, and as a systems administrator. He has previously worked in both the higher education and hospitality sectors.
He has an MBA, a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality Management) and an Associate Degree in Science majoring in pharmacology.
He was elected to the Board in late 2021 and is enjoying working with the Choir.
DAVID ROSE
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 2024 he is continuing on as Treasurer.
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 with music theatre credentials.
GENERAL MEMBERS
ANGELA PERCY
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.
SUZIE JACOBSON
Suzie Jacobson has been a Board member for seven years and has become a familiar face at Choir rehearsals, assisting on the welcome desk from time to time.
Until her retirement Suzie was involved in communication management in the private sector and state government, where for nearly 20 years she was communications manager for the State infrastructure department, and notably Chief of Staff for the Human Services Minister.
Suzie is passionate about ensuring a strong and dynamic future for the choir.
SARAH KIMBER
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.
SHAAN MYALL
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. Shaan is thrilled to be part of the Choir Board for 2023.
