The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir was conceived in November 1990 when a letter was published in the Sydney Star Observer calling for community interest in forming a choir. They have simply gone from strength to strength, and developed a broad repertoire along the way, from classical to pop, and from music theatre to contemporary Australian compositions, and now they’ve just celebrated the 80s with a one- night extravaganza at the Seymour Centre in Sydney in June which was met with rave reviews, plenty of dressing up, Madonna, Billy Idol, Whitney, and the Eurythmics to name just a few of the hits, and a packed house. Many attendees describe an evening at a SGLC concert as their most joyous night out in Sydney over a whole year.



Next stop is their Echoes of Pride event 26 October 2024 at Petersham Town Hall in Sydney, billed as “A celebration of diversity, resilience, and the unifying power of music, that through a carefully curated selection of songs will take you on a journey that echoes the struggles, triumphs and the indomitable spirit of the LGBTQIA+ community.” They sell out their shows so whether you want to go with a couple of friends or take your whole crew you’d do well to book your tickets pronto.

They typically have about 80 people on stage, and plenty of musicians and a full band, all guided by the encouraging hand and expert ear of Adam Majsay, the Musical Director, who makes sure all the hits are delivered from the bands that everyone wants to sing along to. At the 80s night they had brand new arrangements for songs from the master composer and arranger David Maddux, and Echoes of Pride is already shaping up to be just as magnificent with uplifting anthems like “I’m Still Standing” to timeless classics such as “Over the Rainbow” already on the set list.
Ty Frost, the radio deejay from Smooth FM, joined the choir in 2022, having moved from Melbourne to Sydney and finding himself missing the Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus, which has had a similarly big role in the cultural life of that city. The first time he went to see Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir he knew he’d found his tribe.
“Being in a room with other people who have a passion for singing and celebrating together, especially after the pandemic, continues to bring me so much joy,” Ty told Irresistible.
The 80s show was a natural fit for him. The decade as a formative time for him in his own musical journey, being a teen around the time the artists in the show were at their full power. He’s always felt close to the music, and never more so than at work, where 80s music is a cornerstone of the output of Smooth FM. There is even the sister Smooth80s online radio which won’t play anything else.


The choir is an essential fixture of the Sydney Pride and Mardi Gras celebrations and throughout the year they are a powerful symbol of diversity, inclusion and harmony, and a vital and visible presence of Sydney’s LGBTIQA+ community. Every three years the Out & Loud festival brings together choirs from all over Australia and the Indo- Pacific. Last year, they went one step further and in association with Sydney World Pride, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir presented Out & Loud & Proud, a major international LGBTIQA+ choral festival, where choirs from all over the world came together to share the joy of singing.



If you feel like joining yourself, the choir is open to all, and it is non- auditioned, which means that even if you’re not sure if you’re good enough, there’s a place for you. What unites everyone that is a member is “a love of singing together and striving for performance excellence.” They rehearse every Thursday at Glebe Town Hall, and it’s very social; they go out together and support each other a lot. Once you’ve checked out the concert, you might find you’re the one on the stage this time next year.