The Choir of Hard Knocks is reuniting for a special anniversary concert, with the ABC following the group’s journey in a new four-part documentary series.
Narrated by Adam Hills, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus sees original choirmaster Jonathon Welch reunite with founding members as they prepare for a landmark performance featuring some of Australia’s best-known musical performers.
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The ABC is thrilled to announce the heartwarming new documentary series Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus will premiere on Sunday, 29 November at 7.30pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.
Twenty years after it first captured the nation’s heart, with homelessness and mental health remaining pressing issues in Australia, the Choir of Hard Knocks returns for its most ambitious undertaking yet: a landmark gala concert celebrating two decades of music, resilience and community.
Narrated by host of ABC’s Spicks and Specks Adam Hills, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is a moving four-part documentary series following choir members as they navigate rehearsals, personal challenges, unexpected reunions and extraordinary musical collaborations while preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime performance at Melbourne’s iconic Palais Theatre.
Returning for this milestone celebration is original choirmaster Jonathon Welch AM who, having handed the reins to current Co-Artistic Directors Danielle Matthews and Adam Przewlocki in 2019, reunites with founding members and familiar faces from across the choir’s history, while helping Dani & Adam navigate the rollercoaster ride to the anniversary concert
Along the way, the choir receives support from some of Australia’s most celebrated performers, including Missy Higgins, Casey Donovan, Mark Seymour, Kate Miller-Heidke, Christine Anu, Kirk Pengilly, James Morrison, and Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning and Darren Middleton, many of whom take to the stage with the choir in the final concert, helping create some of the evening’s most powerful and moving moments in a stirring celebration of the power of music to change lives.
From intimate rehearsals to the exhilaration of the final performance, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is ultimately a story about people finding a sense of belonging, discovering their strengths and refusing to be defined by their past. Twenty years after the choir first began, its message remains as powerful as ever: music can restore confidence and dignity, create connections and give people the opportunity to be heard.
Production credits: Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is produced by Eureka Productions, a Fremantle company, for the ABC. Financed by the ABC in association with VicScreen. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Â Executive Producer: Gemma Murphy. Series Director: Natalie Cattach. Eureka Chief Content Officer: Sonya Wilkes. ABC Commissioning Editor: Rachel Robinson. ABC Head of Arts, Music & Events: Kath Earle. ABC Head of Documentary & Specialist: Susie Jones.
