What Happens When Men Sing Together?

Every Monday night in Fremantle, something quietly remarkable happens. A group of men — teachers, tradies, retirees, musicians, beginners — gather in a circle and sing. Some have decades of experience. Some can’t read music. Some arrive confident; others aren’t even sure they can sing at all.

Yet for many members of VoiceMale, what begins as music becomes something deeper: friendship, confidence, emotional connection, belonging, and the simple joy of creating something together.

Musical Director Digby Hill has watched that transformation for more than twenty years. VoiceMale grew out of men’s singing workshops and now performs music from traditions across the world — Georgian, African, spirituals, folk and contemporary pieces.

But for Digby, the real magic isn’t the repertoire. It’s the moment individual voices begin listening to each other and become one sound. He’s seen shy men gradually find confidence, men who thought they “couldn’t sing” discover they can, and men who hadn’t performed since childhood step forward with pride.

“We’re here together as a team,” he says.

Finding joy again

For VoiceMale member Bradley, singing has had a profound impact.

A Gulf War veteran and experienced musician, Bradley says he struggled for many years after the war to rediscover enjoyment and purpose.

“Singing was one of the best things I could have ever done,” he says. “It’s brought me back from the dark side and made me appreciate life again.”

VoiceMale, he says, is relaxed, welcoming and pressure‑free — a group of men who laugh together and share a passion for singing. More than a decade after joining, Monday night remains a highlight.

“VoiceMale is just a joy that I love and look forward to every Monday night.”

More than a hobby

Fellow member Dave arrived through a very different doorway.

As his three children finished school and left home, he felt what he calls a “vacancy” opening up — a space that needed filling. Although he’d sung with a guitar, he considered himself a choir beginner and couldn’t read music.

He joined VoiceMale in 2015.

Today, he sings complex music from Georgian and African traditions, spirituals and songs from around the world. But ask him what VoiceMale means and his answer is simple:

“It’s a bunch of mates.”

Dave says singing gives men a way to express emotion that isn’t always available in working life.

“I’m never going to be the star of the show, but I get an enormous amount out of it. I’m a member of a team.”

“VoiceMale is more than a hobby. It’s become part of the sort of person I am.”

A choir worth travelling for

VoiceMale’s appeal extends well beyond Fremantle. Bradley travels 45 minutes from Guildford each week; Dave makes the 30‑minute trip from City Beach.

For both men, VoiceMale is clearly more than “the choir around the corner”. The music, friendships and sense of connection make the weekly journey one they’re happy to make.

“But I can’t sing”

It’s a phrase Digby has heard countless times.

His experience after decades of teaching is simple: the overwhelming majority of people can learn to sing.

Dave’s advice to men who aren’t sure is even simpler:

“You don’t have to be the star of the show. All you’ve got to do is want to sing.”

Come and Try VoiceMale Night

VoiceMale is now inviting men to experience the group for themselves at a Come & Try evening in Fremantle on Monday, 21 September. You’ll find the details below. No audition. No need to read music. No expectation of experience. Just curiosity — and the willingness to walk through the door.

Date: Monday night 21 September 2026
Time: 7pm
Venue: St Paul’s Anglican Church, 162 Hampton Rd, Beaconsfield
Cost: Free
Information: VoiceMale

*By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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