The Port Stephens community choir will hold workshops, concerts and public performances throughout the two-day festival.

It will also host a number of other community choirs who will perform concerts in the Bay at the end of October.

“The five regional choirs attending will be joining together to celebrate what being part of a community choir means to them,” Jeanette Antrum, president of the SeaSide Singers, said.

“We want to share this celebration with residents of Port Stephens – particularly those who like to sing and who may have thought about joining a choir, but haven’t plucked up the courage to take that first step.”

Those who want to learn more about singing or join a community choir are invited to attend a workshop at Soldiers Point Bowling Club on October 29.

The workshop will be led by Peter Guy, choirmaster at Christchurch Cathedral in Newcastle.

After the workshop, which will kick off at 9.30am, there will be an afternoon concert.

For the workshop and concert, the cost is $40 per person.

For just the afternoon concert, which all members of the community are invited to attend, the cost is $10.

The concert will start at 1.30pm.

As a highlight of the festival, and to encourage younger people to sing, the Hunter Singers have been invited to the Bay to present a concert.

The youth choir has won many awards, and has just returned from their latest overseas tour.

The SeaSide Singers received a cultural grant from Port Stephens Council to enable them to bring the group to the Bay, to “delight residents with their singing” Mrs Antrum said.

The Hunter Singers concert will be held in the Chris Walking Theatre at St Philip’s Christian College Theatre from 7pm on October 29.

Those who wish to attend both the Soldiers Point Bowling Club workshop earlier in the day and the evening concert will get a special deal.

It will cost $50 to attend the workshop, afternoon concert and the Hunter Singers’ evening performance.

For those wishing only to attend only the Hunter Singers concert the cost will be $25 per person.

A family ticket is available for $50 (two adults, two school-age children).

All tickets for all events and more information on the festival will be available from the SeaSide Singers stall at Salamander Bay Shopping Centre on Sunday, October 16 or phone Mrs Antrum on 4984 6483.

Tickets will also be available on the door.

The public will be able to enjoy the community choir when it holds a free waterfront concert at d’Albora Marinas from 10am on October 30.