Mandate and Vision

Hamilton Sings! believes that vocal music should be accessible to all—to all who want to learn, sing and hear—and that it should reflect the diversity of our community. We welcome adults and older youth and embrace singers of all abilities and backgrounds.

There is a wealth of knowledge and talent within the greater Hamilton community from which we can learn, teach and share. Hamilton Sings! was formed to fill a need for the physical, social, mental, creative, and spiritual benefits that come with singing in choir.

Drawing on the music of our ancestors and our contemporaries, we offer a diverse and inclusive choral program that engages a maximum of 80 members, and culminates in two annual concerts, when we share our love of singing with our wider community.

How We Learn the Songs

Music is supplied, but you don’t have read music--it helps, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Your fellow singers will help, and surprisingly, you gradually learn what some of those dots and lines actually mean.

The supplied music may be full musical notation, or it may be just a sheet of lyrics. In that case, we’ll learn the tune by repetition.

The music director's online file folder has sound recordings that include the different vocal parts for songs we're working on. Members can practice at home with these tracks.

Musical Director

Bruce Burbidge has an extensive background in church music direction in England and in Ontario. 

He works closely with Hamilton Sings! to select and arrange songs suited to the demands and tastes of the members of our secular community choir. 

HS!CC History

Sue Crowe Connolly, vocal teacher, founded Hamilton Sings! in 2013, That year she invited award-winning Hanna Bech Mathieson to co-direct the choir and their combined talents produced a unique, well-rounded sound and repertoire.

From 25 original members based in Christ’s Church Cathedral, the choir grew rapidly and moved its activities to an old church building in the Gison neighborhood. At the time of the move, the building was home to St. Peter's HARRRP, (Hamilton Association for Residential and Recreational Redevelopment Programs) and then to the  Sherman Boys and Girls Club. Both organizations offered space at a reasonable cost and shared the common mandate of community building.

More history coming soon!