Music / Canberra Qwire: The Sound of Us – A Celebration of Community in Song. At Llewellyn Hall, November 24. Reviewed by SARAH BYRNE.

One of the first performances I ever attended in Canberra, after arriving here in the late 1990s, was the Canberra Gay and Lesbian Choir, better known in recent years as the Qwire.

It was a glorious cornucopia of joy and fun and wonderful harmonies, and the Qwire has remained a favourite ever since. In its present incarnation the Qwire is just as (or even more) diverse in terms of membership, though also, it must be said, somewhat more earnest.

The large turnout of friends, family, allies and music lovers were clearly having a fabulous time, entertained not only by the music but by the exuberant MC, local comedian, writer and advocate Wayne Herbert.

Much-loved musical director Lachlan Snow led the large ensemble through a series of heartfelt pieces emphasising the concerts theme of community in diversity, and our common humanity despite (or because of?) our many differences.

Different songs were enthusiastically accompanied by body percussion, ukeleles (the delightfully-named Gay and Lesbian Ukelele Band, or GLUB), box drum (played by the indefatigable Jess Stewart) and tambourine, as well as piano played expertly and empathetically by Callum Tolhurst-Close. The first act was brought to a rousing conclusion by a fine performance of perennial favourite Don’t Rain on My Parade.

The second half of the program brought three more choruses to the stage: Good Vibes, Vocal Local and Voiceworks, hailing variously from Goulburn and Yass (or Yaaaas!), courtesy of the Out and About project sponsored by Hands Across Canberra. This also brought a bit more musical variety, a highlight being Voiceworx’ performance of Oak and Ash and Thorn, a beautiful new folk song arranged as a canon by Lachlan McGowan and directed by him, too.

The standout piece of the afternoon, for me, was not on the program at all – it was the encore of Love Is In the Air, delivered with great animation by Snow, the musicians and indeed the audience. It’s the classic oldie-but-a-goodie, and everyone was feeling the rush of goodwill as we made our way out of the auditorium.

I confess that I miss the wider array of styles and the odd comic number from the ensembles of yore, but the Qwire must be congratulated for its outreach, the warmth of its community, and the joy it brings to so many.

At the very end of the evening it was announced that this was Snow’s last gig for them, and Tolhurst-Close will be taking over for him in 2025. I look forward to seeing the Qwire continuing to move from strength to strength.