A home for new singing group

Zoe Booty

Bring your off-key shower ballads in for a tune up at Whangarei's newest choir.

"It's great if you can sing in tune, but if not we'll tune you up," said conductor Zoe Booty, who has taught singing for more than 10 years and formerly led Ngunguru Choir.

"You don't have to consider yourself a singer to come ... It's purely for the enjoyment of singing and being with other people."

While there were already several choirs in Whangarei, they were mostly auditioned or required the ability to read music.

The Giant Drop-In Choir would welcome all voices, from the wannabe Beyonce to the tuneless squeal.

"There's value to singing in community choirs - health benefits, social benefits, spiritual benefits," Ms Booty said. "I think people are hanging out to sing. Historically, we used to get together in church and sing every week. We don't do that any more."

However, the choir will in fact take place in a former church, setting up shop at the formerly neglected youth centre at 116A Bank St.

Quirky theatre collective Company of Giants gathered 500 signatures to convince the district council to let them take a one-year peppercorn lease of the building, after council had trouble selling it. The company did so with the promise they would facilitate community use of the space, with a particular focus on youth-related creative and performance art.

Ms Booty had been searching for some time for a place to start a new singing group. "I teach the parts and I do it by ear so people don't need to read music. There is definitely an aspect of community building because you have to work together."

Company of Giants director Laurel Devenie said she was hoping to attract a large age range and families.

"[I'm a] firm believer in group singing as a way to cultivate healthy communities. [There's] heaps and heaps of research about singing being really vital in fighting loneliness and promoting strong communities."

-The Giant Drop-In Choir is on Mondays, 6pm-7.30pm at 116A Bank St.