Rainbow Choir Brings Joy to Rural Australian Town
In tiny Candelo, Australia (population 780), more than 20 LGBTQ+ community members gather weekly to sing, share tea, and celebrate visibility in a place where queer voices haven't always felt heard. The choir called Pandemonium is filling the town hall with music and belonging.
Every Wednesday evening, something magical happens in Candelo, a quiet village of 780 people on Australia's Far South Coast. Rainbow lorikeet-inspired melodies echo from the town hall as more than 20 people gather for Pandemonium, the region's first dedicated LGBTQ+ choir.
April Davis moved to Candelo five years ago and knew queer folks lived there, but visibility felt scarce. "Historically, LGBTQ+ voices have been oppressed, silenced and left out," they said. "I think a lot of activism and advocacy can be kind of heavy, whereas this just felt so filled with joy and delight."
Davis teamed up with local resident Pip Treloar to make the dream real. They approached singer-songwriter Robyn Martin to lead the project, naming it Pandemonium after the collective noun for rainbow lorikeets.
Since May, the choir has met weekly with remarkable consistency. Sessions start with vocal warm-ups, move through three songs (including a choir-adapted version of Olivia Dean's "Man I Need"), and include regular tea and biscuit breaks. Dogs are welcome too.
For member Kalpa Goldflam, walking into that first rehearsal felt nervous. But the warmth changed everything. "I felt so welcome and excited that I just threw myself into it," she said. "It feels like home."
The Ripple Effect
In isolated regional areas, finding community can transform lives. Goldflam explained it perfectly: "There are concentric circles of community and this is one of them. We need each other and we need to have fun and make beautiful, creative things together."
The choir represents something bigger than music. In a town where LGBTQ+ residents existed but remained mostly invisible, Pandemonium creates space for joy, connection, and pride.
Martin feels the significance too. "It's got this grassroots, groundswell of love and energy behind it," she said. "It feels really meaningful."
After breaking for term, Pandemonium plans to return in August and potentially expand rehearsals to nearby towns like Bega. Twenty voices raised in song might not seem like much, but in a village of 780, they're creating exactly what they set out to build: a community that wants to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
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Based on reporting by ABC Australia
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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