Music has always been a part of Maria Rafferton’s life. Driving, gardening

or working, she always had some form of music playing.

She had even tried learning the violin and the keyboard but learning

instruments involved a lot of practice and time was scarce. “Anyway I did

not consider myself good enough to sing in a group so I shied away from

choirs,” she said.

Then her daughter Sara, herself an accomplished musician, told Maria of an

advert for women singers, no training required.

“I made a hesitant phone call,” she said, “and the reception was so warm

and welcoming that I went to listen the very next week to this chorus. Their

harmonies blew me away! I was hooked.”

The rest is history.

She was soon doing what she’d been secretly keen to do for years - singing

in harmony. “The wonderful thing was that when I was very ill with cancer

for a couple of years, I continued going and received love and support from

the group, all 60 women. I got a huge buzz from the music even when I

was unable to sing for a while.”

Maria said, “If you want a pastime that is energising and fun from teenagers

to 70s, come along and listen to The Melbourne Chorus of Sweet Adelines.

Women’s barbershop is huge around the globe and the world wide

organisation of Sweet Adelines is now holding Open Days.”

See them at http://youtu.be/uwmLhL-cvkA . Interested women of all ages

are welcome to see and listen to this fun and energising music making at

The Melbourne Chorus on Wednesday, 15th February.

For full details www.melbournechorus.org.au