Headliners Chorus strikes the right note after big festive season
After a packed run of Christmas performances across the Northern Rivers, Ballina’s Headliners Chorus is enjoying a brief pause before gearing up for a major year ahead.
The 40-strong women’s chorus wrapped up 2025 with appearances at aged care facilities, community events and local businesses, finishing with a Christmas Eve performance at Saltbush overlooking the Richmond River.
Publicity officer Judi Jeans said December had been one of the group’s busiest months, but also one of its most rewarding.
“Seeing people join in, especially children waving fairy wands and shoppers pulling up chairs to sing along, reminded us why we love performing in the community,” Ms Jeans said.
Among the highlights was Carols on the Oval on December 14, where the chorus performed alongside other local groups before a large audience.
“The reception was wonderful and we’ve already been invited back next year, which is very encouraging,” she said.
The singers also drew attention singing Christmas carols outside Wallaces in River Street (pictured), where passers-by stopped to listen and join in, turning the performance into a festive street moment.
Their final appearance of the year came on Christmas Eve at Saltbush, where the chorus roved through the restaurant singing carols before sharing food and drinks by the river at sunset
“It was a beautiful way to finish the year,” Ms Jeans said.
Looking ahead, 2026 will see the chorus shift its focus to competition, with members travelling to Hobart in May to take part in the Sweet Adelines Convention at Wrest Point.
Sweet Adelines is part of Sweet Adelines International, a global organisation founded in the United States in 1945. It has about 25,000 members worldwide — women committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance.
In Australia, the organisation’s regional network includes more than 31 chartered choruses, which compete regularly around the country.
The Hobart convention is a four-day event featuring choruses and quartets from across Australia. The Headliners have been assigned two songs to perform and will spend the coming weeks preparing ahead of rehearsals resuming later this month.
Founded in 2009, the Headliners Chorus has grown from a small local group into a region-wide ensemble, drawing members from Ballina, Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Lismore, Evans Head and Federal.
Led by the talented Musical Director Cathy Gordon, the chorus sings a cappella in four-part harmony, performing a wide repertoire spanning jazz, swing, rock, pop and show tunes, with a strong emphasis on entertaining local audiences.
Anyone interested in joining or learning more can visit the Headliners Chorus website: https://www.headlinerschorus.info/dbpage.php?pg=home
The Headliners Chorus formally the Lennox Headliners was foundered in 1999.
Our founding Director was Jen Squires, Cathy Gordon took over as Director when Jen left for WA to pursue further musical education.