Who are we?

The choir is a sub-section of the Arcadians Theatre Group. It was formed in 1999 and is based at the Arcadians’ home The Miner’s Lamp Theatre in Corrimal. The Arcadians’ Lamplighters Male Choir is a relatively new choir of retired men who started when founder and musical director Doreen Bryars and 12 men from the Arcadians’ Minstrels group started to rehearse some 4-part male choir songs to include in the Minstrels’ program for their community service concerts.

The Lamplighters has a current membership of 60 happy and enthusiastic men who enjoy singing and entertaining their audiences with a growing repertoire of a wide variety of songs.

The group has steadily grown and is regularly welcoming new members from a variety of musical backgrounds as well as retiring Arcadians.

Rehearsals are held at The Miner’s Lamp Theatre every Monday from 9.30am to noon and the choir is kept active with about 20 performances a year.

The originals

The Originals

The Lamplighters Originals are actually defined as Doreen the founder and 12 men. One extra was Ron Morris, the ex Wollongong surf champion, who was a major influence on Doreen forming the group. He was an inspiration during his last year of suffering from cancer as he continued to sing and played his banjo with the Minstrels to the end. The 14th man was Pat Nolan who joined very soon after the 12 and gave the group its name.

The name ‘Lamplighters’ is ideal as the group rehearse at The Miner’s Lamp Theatre and several singers were ex miners. It has also led to the Lamplighters making Canadian Rita MacNeil’s stirring song ‘Working Man’ their theme song and on special occasions all the choir members wear miner’s safety hats complete with lamps to perform this number.

Albert

Our Mascot

The new Miner’s Lamp was kindly donated to the Lamplighters Male Choir by 99 year old Welshman Albert Morgan, a long time friend of one of the choir members and a lifelong lover of male choral singing. He is happy to know that this shiny brass lamp will be displayed at every Lamplighters’ concert in the future as the symbol of the choir and The Arcadians Theatre Group’s home the Miner’s Lamp Theatre.

Lampettes

The wives and partners of the choir members have formed themselves into a very important support group and recently named themselves the Lampettes.

This very industrious and social group meets monthly for morning coffee discussions and strongly assist and promote the Lamplighters in many ways. Whenever the choir has any concerts with other choirs they are there to provide great refreshments for all the performers. Many of these ladies travel to Lamplighter concerts and are always helping in the promotion of the Lamplighters’ larger concerts in all sorts of supportive ways. The Lampettes are a great asset.