The Combined Unions Choir
Philosophy
- to provide an opportunity for working people and their supporters to express themselves in song and enhance their musical skills
- to promote solidarity amongst working people and between the union movement and other groups concerned with peace, social justice and environment issues
- to raise awareness of and celebrate the struggles and issues of importance to working people within the broader community.
- to have a good time!
Membership
To join the choir, we'd like you to be one of the following:
- a union member
- a retired unionist
- unemployed
- a supporter of union principles of equality and social justice
Our latest project - Vamos a Cuba! (we're going to Cuba)
The choir is going to Cuba in 2009 to participate in the International Choral Festival in Santiago de Cuba from 25 to 29 November. We will be joined by members of other union and solidarity choirs from NSW, Victoria, ACT and WA.
We are holding a fundraising concert on 17 July at the Paddington Community and Workers Club, Given Tce - Vamos a Cuba! The Newcastle People's Chorus and members of some other interstate choirs will join us to provide a great night's entertainment from 7:30pm. Contact Mary Slivka on 3890 1739 or mpslivka@bigpond.net.au for details or click here for concert flyer.
For more information on the Combined Unions Choir contact:
Denis Humes 0419 365281 or email denishumes@energex.com.au
Mary Slivka 3890 1739 or email mpslivka@bigpond.net.au
Marianne Ehrhardt 3348 5228 or email m.ehrhardt@bigpond.com
The Combined Union Choir is available to perform at union conferences, rallys, stopwork meetings, Christmas parties or other celebrations.
Rehearsals are every Thursday night, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, 2nd floor, 16 Peel St South Brisbane (TLC Building).
Need the words to those great union songs?
Purchase the Choir's CD
The following choir CDs are available for $10:
- Striking Chords (produced in 2003)
- Fair Plan Cabaret (produced in 2006)
- 888 produced with other union choirs to mark the centenary of the 8 Hour Day
They can be purchased by contacting Brian Prideaux on 3407 4699 (business hours), 3369 9556 (after hours) or on mobile 0439 899556.
Famous Projects
- Songs for Reconciliation (1994) - with Thursday Island's Lexine Solomon
- Setting Fire to the Choir (1993) - with the ANC's Siphiwo Lubambo
- Off with the Pixies (1995) - the Christopher Skase Operetta (as seen on national television)
- Calor y Canto (Heat and Song) (1993) - songs of struggle from Latin America
- Songs from the War Years (1995)
- Limestone Cabaret (1996)
- Choirs to Congress (1997)
- Workers on the Water (1999)
- 10th Anniversary Concert
- Fair Play Cabaret
Plus traditional, contemporary and original songs inspired by the union movement, local and global community celebrations, outrage and action.
The Combined Unions Choir at 2001 Labour Day Celebrations
