From a modest local choir to a thriving community music hub, Hampton Park-based Melbourne Youth Chorale (MYC) has undergone a remarkable transformation, quadrupling in size over the past two years.
Tucked at Hampton Park Secondary College, MYC welcomes young singers every Wednesday afternoon with a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
Students, from everywhere in the south east, Cranbourne, Officer, Pakenham, Emerald, can be seen using their time before rehearsals to quietly work on their homework. Parents settle in nearby, reading books or chatting softly as they wait for their children to finish.
The choir, which used to be known as Berwick Youth Choir, has been operating in the City of Casey for nearly 40 years now. The late Jean Herriott, then head of music at St Margaret’s School in Berwick, saw a gap in accessible, high-quality music education for children in the City of Casey, especially those outside the private school system, and launched the choir to fill that need. In 2015, reflecting a broader reach beyond Berwick, the choir rebranded as Melbourne Youth Chorale. Its home base has also shifted over time: from Federation University to a temporary stint in Beaconsfield post-lockdown, and finally to its current location.
“When we move, we usually lose some and gain some, but we have quadrupled our numbers in the last two years and now have 140 choristers,” executive manager Kerry Alexander said.
“There’s a huge need for programs like this in the community at the moment. It started growing quite quickly after we came out of lockdown because with the isolation and everything, people are quite excited to be able to do stuff with others now.
“To meet the growing demand, we’ve put more staff on, and I guess it’s a reason we’re in a bit of a financial bind right now. With some anticipated funding grants not coming through, we’re looking for other avenues to meet the need so we can pay our staff and keep the program thriving.
“Across lockdown, we did a massive culture shift in the organisation. So instead of being a fee-paying audition choir, we take anyone regardless of their background or perceived ability and encourage growth from there.”
For Caitlyn Bosch, the choir’s artistic director, the program didn’t just nurture her voice. It shaped her future.
“It was really started and flourished here,” she said.
“That was what led me to go, I can do music as a career, and this is something I love.”
For Miriam, who started a new role as a teacher this year and was a chorister for nearly seven years before, every second spent in the choir is joy.
“I like that kids start really shy and not knowing what to do, and then after their time, they learn how to use their voice and how to express what they’re feeling,” she said.
Over the years, MYC has had its ups and downs, from album recordings and touring years ago to a decline in participation. But today, the numbers are surging, and the mission remains the same: music for all.
That inclusive ethos is reflected in the choir’s diverse makeup. Over a third of students are homeschooled, and another third speak English as a second language. The choir also offers a dedicated program to support children with special needs.
“Music is a great way for some kids if they struggle with social skills,” Caitlyn said.
“They have to mix with other kids. For homeschoolers, socialising has to be deliberate…Things like this are a really good opportunity for homeschool families.”
In a world still healing from disconnection, MYC is doing more than teaching harmony; it’s building it.
And for the young people of Casey, that’s something to sing about.
