Sharing the Gift of Singing: Bringing Choir to Steiner Schools and the Wider Community

For those of us who sing in choirs, we know that the experience can transform people and communities. A room full of voices singing in harmony creates something powerful - connection, listening, joy, and a sense of belonging.

A small group of Wayfarers are preparing for a short tour of Steiner schools around Byron Bay, where we will offer workshops and performances for students and school communities. Through this tour we hope to give young people the experience many of us treasure: the moment when individual voices become a living choir, singing in harmony.

Wayfarers tours are low budget in order to make access to music as accessible and inclusive as possible for tour participants and for schools. Despite this, the cost of participation is still out of reach for some people so we are asking the wider community if they would be willing to contribute something to allow us to be a truly inclusive organisation. Your gift extends three ways:

1. showing support for a community organisation like ours

2. allowing someone to participate in this musical experience who otherwise would not be able to and

3. ensuring that Wayfarers brings joyful music making even to small schools who otherwise couldn't afford to organise such experiences.

Continuing Judy Clingan’s Vision

This work continues the vision of Judy Clingan, whose lifetime of leadership has inspired generations of musicians.

Through Wayfarers Australia, Judy has shown that singing is far more than performance - it is often a transcendent experience that builds community and connects cultures.

Many choirs around Australia and internationally have been touched by this tradition of gatherings, performance, workshops, and shared song. Our tour aims to extend that spirit to the next generation of singers.

Bringing Singing Into Schools

During the tour we will work with Steiner schools to:

1. lead singing and composition workshops with students

2. support school music programs

3. offer performances for the school community, and local community

4. encourage the experience of multi-part choral singing

For many students this will be their first experience of singing in a large, vibrant choir setting.

Why We’re Fundraising

Travel and accommodation costs make tours like this challenging. Funds raised will help cover:

Transport to schools across northern NSW

Accommodation for choir members

Support for singers so financial barriers do not prevent participation

A Call to the Singing Community

Many of us know first-hand how deeply a choir can shape our lives - the friendships, the listening, the shared musical language that stays with us for years. Through this tour we hope to offer that same experience to young people in Steiner schools around Byron Bay, while continuing to share the joy of choral singing and extending the community of Wayfarers Australia.

If you are able to contribute, you will be helping bring the living experience of choral singing to the next generation. Every donation, large or small, helps make this tour possible.