The Vocal Muster

23/07/2026

There's a moment we see over and over again.

A young person gripping the mic stand, not to steady the mic, but their own hands.

Months later, that same young person is the one cracking jokes with the audience between songs.

Confidence isn't something a young person either has or doesn't have. It's built, gradually, through supportive challenges and a lot of showing up.

Our Vocal Vibes Workshops, and Monthly Performance Showcases exist for exactly this reason: a regular, low-stakes opportunity to stretch a little further than last time.

Parents tell us it doesn't stop at the stage either. The friendships. The anxiety strategies. The sense of belonging. It all comes home too.

We've written more about how it actually happens.

You can read more here: https://vocalmuster.org.au/how-confidence-actually-develops/

Fast forward a few months, and that same young person is now the one actively reaching out to engage their peers and cracking jokes with the audience in

02/07/2026

The Vocal Muster answers to more than good intentions.

Every volunteer holds a current Working With Children Check.

Every concern raised is taken seriously and addressed quickly.

Every dollar of every donation goes directly to young performers.

That’s right! 100% of it gets invested in our programs, performances, and experiences rather than overheads.

Financial reserves are built to weather the unexpected, and every quarter, our Board checks in on whether we're actually delivering on our goals.

None of this happens by chance. It happens because of the efforts of our Board and operational team, in association with an incredibly tight group of volunteers.

Everyone generously contributes their time and expertise, helping to ensure a magical experience at each and every opportunity.

While none of it is glamorous, all of it is why the stage keeps being there, for every participant, every month of every year, without interruption, for the last 8+ years.

Want to see who's responsible for holding us to that standard?

You can read more here: https://vocalmuster.org.au/strategic-governance-ensuring-lasting-change/

How The Vocal Muster creates change through youth performance and singing opportunities is inseparable from the governance obligations that come with our

25/06/2026

Psst! Only 2 spots left for our Vocal Vibes Workshop!

That's right, our July School Holiday Workshop is almost full. If you've been thinking about it, now is the time. Two days on a professional stage with real lights, real sound, and industry mentors who genuinely care about your journey.

Suitable for ages 12-18. All completely free and made possible by our incredible supporters and the NSW Office of Regional Youth.

Register your interest here before the last spots are gone:
https://forms.gle/XvUwPXLPMybiXtjA8
(Application received after all places are filled automatically go onto a wait list.)

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We also want to share something we know our community will find exciting. You may have heard us talking about GigBridge (gigbridge.com.au), it’s a new Australian platform being built to connect live music performers, venues, and booking agents in one place.

GigBridge is gearing up for launch and they're running a short survey to hear from anyone connected to the live music scene. If you’re a performer or a venue owner, and you can spare 5 minutes, we know they’d genuinely appreciate your input in how the platform will work: https://forms.gle/s2qVESgwX9ejPU2u9

Want to know more about GigBridge? Drop Richard a line at: [email protected]

19/06/2026

Our Story... Lessons from the Journey...

Eight years ago, a chance encounter outside the IGA in Moss Vale sparked a question that changed everything: how many young voices across the Southern Highlands were going unheard, not from lack of talent, but simply from lack of opportunity?

The answer to that question became The Vocal Muster.

Through the journey of community-led youth support programs, we have learned something that matters more than anything we could teach in a workshop: no young person should have to figure it out alone.

Whether it’s navigating any number of life’s challenges, or just the sheer weight of being someone aged between twelve and eighteen, having a place where your voice genuinely matters changes things. We have seen it happen, one young person at a time.

Every programme we offer is free. No auditions. No barriers. Just a wide-open door and a community that believes in showing up for its young people.

If you know a young person in the Southern Highlands who could benefit from a sense of belonging, our story might just be the beginning of theirs.

Read more on our website: https://vocalmuster.org.au/lessons-from-the-journey/

Not the kind of lessons you find in a textbook, but the kind that come from being in a room with a young person who is too nervous to look up from the floor,

11/06/2026

Winter Newsletter & July Workshops Filling Fast!

Know a young person aged 12 to 18 who would love to get involved.
We’d love to have them, but spots are limited and they’re filling fast.
We’re currently 50% subscribed with 10 still places available!
Don’t miss out, register your interest here:
https://forms.gle/XvUwPXLPMybiXtjA8

We’ve just published the winter edition of our quarterly newsletter, here's what you'll find:
-Read our heartfelt thanks to the supporters who make it all possible.
-Catch up on the monthly Dormie House showcases and what's coming on Sunday 26 July.
-Learn about The Muster Nest Showcases for our developing performers.
-Discover what's waiting for you in our Watch, Look and Listen Media Hub.
-Cheer on our participants starring in Hadestown and Mamma Mia! this June.
-Find out where Jess Howell performed at A Day on the Green.
-Relive the magic of Vocal Vibes 5 and what made it genuinely effective.

You can read the full newsletter here:
https://vocalmuster.org.au/newsletter-june-2026-edition/

It has certainly been a busy and exciting few months at The Vocal Muster. So find a warm place, settle in, and enjoy what we have to share with you in this

04/06/2026

Something (not so quiet) is building in the Southern Highlands.

Local businesses are choosing to stand behind young people. Not with a logo on a banner, but with genuine, ongoing commitment to what performance and singing can create.

McDonald's Moss Vale. Pirtek Southern Highlands. Fairground Follies. Moss Vale Community Pharmacy. Alongside government agencies, community foundations, and countless individual supporters, these partners have helped build something that none of them could have built alone.

And there's room for more!

Everything The Vocal Muster offers is free. Every workshop, every performance, every moment of mentoring. And every dollar of support goes directly to enriching young lives, because the entire operational team volunteers their time and expertise.

As a registered charity with DGR status, all donations are tax-deductible.

If your business is looking for a way to invest in your community that creates real, lasting impact, we would welcome a conversation with you.

Get in touch by sending us an email at [email protected] and Pieter or Jenny will get in contact with you to continue the conversation.

Read more about how our strategic partnerships are helping The Vocal Muster amplify opportunity creation.

https://vocalmuster.org.au/how-strategic-partnerships-amplify-opportunity-creation/

That is what strategic partnership looks like at The Vocal Muster. Not a logo on a poster. Not a one-off transaction. A deliberate, sustained decision to

27/05/2026

Are you ready to find your voice?
*** PLEASE NOTE *** DATE CHANGE ***

Mark your calendars, as we've got something special lined up!

The Vocal Vibes Workshop is back on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th July, and we want YOU there.

If you haven't joined us before - here's what it's all about.

You'll step onto a professional stage with real lights and sound, mentored by industry pros who genuinely care about your journey.

Whether you're an existing participant or this is your very first time, there's a place for everyone here. We welcome everyone aged 12–18.

But honestly? It's about more than the stage.

We keep seeing it happen: young people walk in a little unsure of themselves, and leave with something they didn't expect to find. Confidence. Connection. A sense of belonging.

Singing does something to the brain that's hard to explain until you've experienced it first hand. It reduces stress, lifts your mood, and gives you a moment that's entirely your own.

(If you're a parent, that's two days of the School Holidays sorted. Winner! Winner!)

And because we believe no young person should miss out, everything we do is 100% free. All made possible by our incredible supporters and the NSW Office of Regional Youth.

Places are limited, so get in early and register your interest here:
https://forms.gle/XvUwPXLPMybiXtjA8

You can also keep up with all our other exciting events through our website:
https://vocalmuster.org.au/events/

21/05/2026

Everything The Vocal Muster offers is free.

To everyone who has donated, whether recently or in years past, thank you!

Free singing lessons. Free monthly Performance Showcases. Free school holiday workshops. All offered by professional mentors, proper staging, and the kind of experience that genuinely changes how a young person sees themselves.

That's only possible because of individuals in this community who choose to make it so.

Your generosity and donations go directly into the programmes themselves. The weekly lessons, the monthly performance showcases, and the professional mentors who support our workshops and show up for young people in the Southern Highlands time and time again.

If you have been considering making a donation, we would welcome hearing from you. The Vocal Muster is a registered charity with DGR status, meaning all donations are fully tax-deductible.

We prefer to have first conversations personally. So reach out to us at [email protected] and Jenny or Pieter will be in touch.

https://vocalmuster.org.au/because-of-people-like-you/

Because of people like youThe Vocal Muster21 May 2026Donations As we approach the end of the financial year, we want to pause and say thank you.Not in a general, organisational way. But genuinely, and directly, to the people who continue to make this all possible. Free weekly singing lessons. Free m...

15/04/2026

There is something truly magical about the Southern Highlands when our community rallies together.

At The Vocal Muster, we believe performance is about more than just a great song. It is about creating memories that last a lifetime and building strong bonds within our local community.

Our showcases bridge the gap between generations. Instead of just sitting in the audience, families come together to be moved and inspired by our young performers. It is a joy to see parents, grandparents, and siblings cheering on our kids and reclaiming the stage together.

These shared moments do even more good by supporting causes close to our hearts. We are so proud to have been able to raise money for our Rural Fire Service and for the opportunity to support Can Assist.

As a registered charity with DGR status, we are committed to keeping our programmes free so every young person can find their voice and give back to our neighbours.

Want to hear more about how we are connecting families through performance? Read our latest blog post here: https://vocalmuster.org.au/creating-shared-family-experiences/

There is something truly magical about the Southern Highlands. Whether it’s the mist rolling over the hills in the morning or the way the community rallies

09/04/2026

Are you ready to find your voice?

Our next Vocal Vibes Workshop is locked and loaded for Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th April!

We’ve seen how much magic happens when young people get together to sing. It’s about so much more than music - it’s about building confidence and feeling like you belong.

Singing is brilliant for mental health. It helps lower stress by reducing cortisol and gives those feel-good brain chemicals, like dopamine, a real boost. It’s a chance to switch off from the world and focus on your own creative journey in a supportive environment.

At the workshop, you’ll step onto a professional stage with proper lights and sound. You’ll be mentored by industry pros who are there to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just starting out, we provide a safe, nurturing space for everyone aged 12-18.

We want to make sure every young person in our community has the chance to shine without any barriers. Everything we do is 100% free, thanks to our wonderful supporters and the support we receive from the NSW Office of Regional Youth.
We’d love to see you there!

Check out the workshop details on our website:
https://vocalmuster.org.au/our-vocal-vibes-workshops/