Touring Choir Registration

The following activities and experiences are included as part of your 2026 registration: 

Pop-up Program 

Surprise and delight audiences across the state in a series of performances in a variety of spaces.  Choirs will enjoy performing for guests and passers-by in a creatively curated program. 

Up to four performances are included in your registration, with the option to upgrade and add up to four additional performances for an additional small per-choir levy. 

Friday 3 to Sunday 12 July | Various times and locations, statewide 

 

The Singers’ Lounge & Choir Lounge 

Often described as the heart and soul of Festival of Voices – and perhaps our best-kept secret – the Singers’ Lounge is where friends old and new revel in the glory of song. Enjoy a blend of scheduled and impromptu performances, including surprise appearances by some of our big-name artists who have been known to help anxious altos and timid tenors find their moment in the spotlight with a warm and supportive crowd. It’s always bustling with music, conversation and camaraderie. It’s the ultimate singers’ hangout. 

In 2026, we’re thrilled to introduce our sister space: The Choir Lounge! Located a floor above Singers’ Lounge in Salamanca Arts Centre and running on selected nights, this dedicated listening environment offers another way to enjoy the depth and diversity of choirs performing at the Festival, hosted by beloved local and interstate Festival friends. 

In addition to performing with your choir, registered participants will have free entry (subject to capacity) into the Singers’ Lounge and the Choir Lounge for the duration of the Festival in Hobart, and for a one-night-only Singers’ Lounge in Launceston. 

Singers’ Lounge:  Friday 3 to Saturday 11 July | 7.30 pm | Long Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre 

Choir Lounge:  Dates to be announced | 7.30 pm | Founders Room, Salamanca Arts Centre 

Singers’ Lounge Launceston:  Wednesday 8 July | 7.30 pm | Du Cane Brewing

 

Atrium Echoes 

Experience the power of collective voices as the spacious atrium of the Hotel Grand Chancellor becomes a living instrument. Under the direction of celebrated Australian vocalist Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO, singers from around the country will unite as their voices cascade from the balconies and echo through the resonant open space. Participants will join Deborah for preparation at a workshop and rehearsal on the Friday prior to the performance. 

There is no need to book into this workshop; all members of festival touring choirs are warmly invited to attend.

Friday 3 July | 3.30pm – 5.00pm | Workshop in Hobart Town Hall 

Sunday 5 July | 12.00pm | Performance in The Atrium, Hotel Grand Chancellor

 

Salamanca Super Sing 

Join in the fun of a public flash mob at the bustling Salamanca Market.  Surprise and entertain hundreds of marketgoers in this memorable performance experience.  The ‘SSS’, along with a workshop and rehearsal the afternoon prior, will be led by expert choir leader and Festival favourite Paul Jarman. 

There is no need to book into this event; all members of festival touring choirs are encouraged to join in! 

Friday 10 July | 3.30pm – 5.00pm | Rehearsal in Long Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre 

Saturday 11 July | 11.00am | Flashmob performance in Salamanca Square 

 

Rug Up to Warm Up 

Start your Festival day on the right note! Join like-minded singers for an energising morning warm-up each day, led by surprise guest conductors. It’s the perfect way to prepare your voice for a day of singing and warm your spirits — just don’t forget to dress warmly!  

Friday 3 to Sunday 12 July | 9.00 am daily | Mawson Place Concourse 

 

Sing Central 

Drop in and join a hub of choral connection at this year’s Festival. Led by a different conductor or choir each day, you’ll spend a glorious half hour singing together with like-minded participants. No preparation is required, just turn up and sing! Discover fresh repertoire, explore new styles, learn new techniques, or even find your next choir. Whether you’re between rehearsals and pop-ups or simply just passing by, there’s always a song waiting for you here.  

Subject to venue capacity daily. 

Friday 3 to Saturday 11 July | 12.00 pm daily | Waterside Pavilion, Mawson Place 

  

The Choir Sessions  

Raise your voice, raise a glass and join us for The Choir Sessions – a brand-new social experience at Festival of Voices.  Held on two Sunday afternoons for touring and Tasmanian choir members, this is the perfect opportunity to connect beyond the stage.  Enjoy good company, local food and drink, and the lively spirit that arises when voices gather in harmony.  Meet fellow singers, exchange stories, spark collaborations, and celebrate the friendships and shared passion that make choral singing such a powerful force in our community.  

Sunday 5 July | From 3.00 pm | Venue to be announced 

Sunday 12 July | From 3.00 pm | In the Hanging Garden 

  

Optional:  Massed choir performance 

We are excited to invite touring choir members for an exclusive opportunity to join iconic Australian composer and conductor Paul Jarman as part of our Festival closing event, One Last Song: Festival Finale.  Paul will run a session to work through some specially selected repertoire, leading to a performance as part of the festival’s closing event. 

The cost for this optional extra opportunity is $25 and is available exclusively for members of interstate choirs joining us for this year’s festival.  For this fee, singers will receive: 

• One hour rehearsal session with Paul Jarman 

• The opportunity to sing in our closing event One Last Song: Festival Finale 

• A ticket to the concert.  (Please note that participants will be seated together in prime seating on the mezzanine level of the Federation Concert Hall and are unable to choose their own seat.)

To take up this offer, do not book a ticket for this concert on the website!  Contact your choir’s organiser for a special booking link, which will be available from Friday 20 March. 

Saturday 11 July | 4.15pm – 5.15pm | Rehearsal in Hobart Town Hall 

Sunday 12 July | 1.00pm | One Last Song: Festival Finale in Federation Concert Hall 

All choirs and vocal ensembles of any experience level and genre are welcome to participate. 

31 March 2026 – Touring Choir Registrations close (one per group, submitted by choir leader or organiser) 

31 May 2026 – Touring Chorister Registrations close 

3 – 12 July – Rug Up to Warm Up 

3 – 11 July – Sing Central 

3 – 11 July – Singers’ Lounge  

TBA – Choir Lounge  

3 July – Workshop and rehearsal with Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO 

5 July – Atrium Echoes 

5 July – Choir Session #1 

10 July – Workshop and rehearsal with Paul Jarman 

11 July – Salamanca Super Sing 

12 July – Festival closing event (optional) 

12 July – Choir Session #2 

All choirs that would like to participate in the Festival need to complete a choir group registration form. This form should be submitted once per choir, by the musical director, choir leader or another designated representative. To access the registration form, click on the ‘Choir Registration Form – Choir Leaders Only’ button at the top right of this web page. 

Based on the information provided, we will work with you to create a schedule for your choir that accommodates any workshops, rehearsals and performances. 

Choir group registrations are due by 31 March 2026. 

Please contact our Touring Choir coordinator for any enquiries at [email protected]. 

Are you already registered for a major (multi-day) workshop?  These include the Classical Choral (Handel), Songwriting, A Cappella and AC/DC Choir workshops. 

If you answered YES, do not register again – your registration is included in your workshop fee! 

Otherwise, click on the ‘Registrations – individual choristers’ button at the top right of this web page to register and pay for your chorister registration. Individual registrations are open until 31 May 2026. 

 You will receive an email confirmation after checkout. Please complete the singer details form linked in this email so that we know which singer/s were included in your purchase. 

The Festival can assist by recommending preferred travel and accommodation partners, who offer exclusive discounted prices. 

Please note: 

• Participating choirs and individuals are responsible for all matters related to the organisation, booking and payment of all accommodation, travel and meals on your trip to Tasmania.   

• The Festival is not responsible for any travel or accommodation booking issues that may arise. 

Do we need to apply and go through a selection process? 

No. You can let Kerry know when your choir will be attending.  

Only use the artist application form if you are proposing a performance concept for which you would request a performance fee.

 

Do we need to come for the whole Festival? 

No. You are welcome come for as long or as little as suits your singers.  Many choirs come for four to five days. 

 

How many performances would we do? 

You can request as many or as few pop-up performances as you like.  

Up to four pop-ups are included in the chorister registration fee. For a one-off $90 levy (per choir, not per individual), your choir may add up to four additional pop-ups to your schedule. 

You can indicate your preference in the choir group registration form (completed once per choir). We will work with you to create a performance schedule that suits your group’s needs and availability. 

 

What will be the length of our performances? 

Pop-up performances are up to 20 minutes in length.   

Singers’ Lounge and Choir Lounge spots are 10 minutes. 

 

Are there massed choir events that participating groups can choose to be part of? 

Yes! These are listed on the Touring Choir Registrations page. 

 

Can we see other choirs perform? 

Yes. Please refer to our Events page for all ticketed concerts and events. The full Festival program will launch in March 2026.   

Additionally, there will be a range of free pop-ups across Tasmania – the schedule will be published in June 2026 and kept up to date on our website.   

 

Does my whole choir have to register for a workshop? 

No. We can schedule your pop-up performances around any workshops your singers participate in. 

 

If I register for a workshop, do I also have to pay the Touring Chorister Registration fee? 

No. Your touring choir registration is included in the fee for our major (multi-day) workshops. 

 

Are there warm-up spaces or green rooms at Pop-up venues? 

Generally, no. Pop-ups usually take place in public spaces without dedicated arm-up areas. We recommend warming up beforehand or finding a nearby space, such as a park or adjacent area. 

 

Is there a keyboard available or a PA/speaker for backing tracks? 

Yes – subject to availability. Please let us know what equipment you would like supplied on the choir group registration form. 

 

Will we have time for some sightseeing? 

Absolutely! Just let Kerry know if you’d like free time included in your schedule. We may even be able to coordinate a performance at a tourist destination! 

The Gisborne Singers had an amazing time at our very first Festival of Voices! Our repertoire, collectively titled ‘Over the Sea’ – full of songs inspired by water – was such a joy to share, and we were blown away by the warm reception from audiences. 

We loved meeting other choirs and spending time connecting and swapping stories. Our members are still talking about how fun and inspiring the workshops were (many of our members became Velvetones for the day), and how great it was to wander around and discover all the pop-up performances. 

A huge thank-you to the organisers, who were so friendly and helpful every step of the way. The whole experience felt easy and stress-free – a perfect “low-risk” adventure for our first touring trip since the Covid pandemic. The locations and venues were beautiful too!  

We’re already looking forward to coming back.
Kitty – President, Gisborne Singers (VIC) 

 

We loved singing at so many venues around delightful Hobart, and getting to hear other wonderful choirs from across Australia. The Singers’ Lounge was a real highlight. It was a joy-filled weekend, beautifully organised by the Festival of Voices team.
Annie – Singer, The Keytones Choir (VIC)  

 

The 2025 Festival of Voices was so well organised, it was such a delight and an honour to be able to sing in the Festival with my choir, Chantefique. The program was superbly administered and arranged, when we were not singing, we were able to go to performances and shows and wowed! My husband, who came with me to Tasmania, had a great time too. The week we were there,we literally had ourselves a great holiday! Strongly recommend anyone to come to the Festival of Voices in Tasmania!
Shiao-Ping – Singer, Chantefique French Choir (QLD) 

 

When I initially shared with the singers the plan to participate in Festival of Voices 2024, I was hoping to get between 20-30 singers signing up so we have a big and strong enough group to perform. Little did I know so many would not only come to Hobart but make it an experience of a lifetime. To say we had a blast is a complete understatement, the positive feedback about everything Festival of Voices, Hobart and Tasmania is still echoing in all the chat groups and rehearsal rooms. There’s an ongoing joke, which sounds a bit like threat in my opinion, that next time there will be 300 of us. Thank you for accommodating our overspilling excitement and making the Festival the most exceptional music experience for all of us. 
Darina – Musical Director, Adult Glee Club (NSW)