Pacific Pride Choir

'I have participated in both of the past PPC tours and they have been wonderful experiences. The tours have had interesting repertoire, companionable participants and have connected with the local communities we visited. Sarah and Mel are great organisers and the tours have run smoothly. There has also been ample time for sightseeing and relaxing with the others in the group. I look forward to future tours.'
David, Sydney
Founded by Sarah & Melanie Penicka-Smith, with the help of KIconcerts, Pacific Pride Choir (PPC) is an occasional touring choir created to contribute to the visibility & acceptance of LGBTQI+ people in countries where homosexuality is legalised, but not fully recognised. PPC travels to areas without a queer choir, and/or where LGBTQI+ people are still working towards acceptance. We work in partnership with local LGBTQI+ organisations & people to create visibility, solidarity, & recognition.
The idea for Pacific Pride Choir was born during Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir’s 2014 tour to Helsinki, Tallinn & Riga. We were overwhelmed by the response to us in countries unused to seeing out gay & lesbian people. The LGBTQI+ advocacy groups we met with, chronically understaffed, said they struggled to gain any kind of public notice, but SGLC’s tour got the media’s attention, letting the words ‘gay & lesbian’ appear on national TV. Local queer folk told us how they felt less alone seeing the choir, how they wished they could have their own choir, & how we were needed in other parts of Europe.
Pacific Pride Choir is a small step towards meeting that need. Every two years, we hope to meet for a rehearsal camp in a gay-friendly city, & then tour to places where we feel LGBTQI+ outreach can make a real difference. We’ll meet locals, engage with LGBTQI+ groups, sing for the general public & our own community, & show everyone how proud we are to be part of a diverse & inclusive community.
Pacific Pride Choir is open to any member of the LGBTQI+ community, & to our straight friends. Experience singing in a choir is preferable but not essential. Partners, family members & friends who do not wish to sing but would still like to participate
are welcome to travel with us. While most of our choristers come from Australia, PPC is open to people from anywhere in the world.
Inaugural tour: Berlin | Krakow | Warsaw | July 2017
Hanoi | Phnom Penh | Siem Reap |July 2019