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{{Short description|Australian choir}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Choir of Hard Knocks
| image =
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape = 
| alt =
| caption =
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| genre = {{flatlist|
* Pop rock
* classical
}}
| years_active = {{start date|2006}}–present
| label =
| associated_acts = [[Choir of Hope and Inspiration]]
| website = 
| current_members =
| past_members =
* [[Jonathon Welch]]
}}

The '''Choir of Hard Knocks''' is an Australian choir.

==History==
The Choir of Hard Knocks was the brainchild of [[Jason Stephens (actor)|Jason Stephens]] of [[FremantleMedia Australia]] in conjunction with the charity Reclink, a not for profit community organisation that provides sport and arts opportunities to those experiencing social and economic disadvantage.<ref name="Hull">{{cite journal | author1 = Hull, David | title = Choir Offers Sanctuary from 'Hard Knocks' | journal = Encore Magazine | date = 1 March 2007 | publisher = [[Reed Business Information]] | location = Australia | volume = 25 | issue = 3 | pages = 32(2) | issn = 0815-2063 }}</ref> Their name references the phrase, [[school of hard knocks]]: learning by experiencing life, not through classrooms. [[Jonathon Welch]], a former tenor with [[Opera Australia]] who had previously developed a similar choir, the Sydney Street Choir, was cast as the choir master.

Welch had studied the [[Montreal]] Homeless Men's Choir in late 1999 and established a choir of homeless people for a TV project – the Sydney Street Choir – in 2001.<ref name="Munro">{{cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/with-a-song-in-his-heart/2007/09/07/1188783486927.html?page=fullpage | title = With a song in his heart | last = Munro | first = Peter | work = [[The Age]]| date = 8 September 2007 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref><ref name="Deveny">{{cite news | first = Catherine | last = Deveny | author-link = Catherine Deveny | title = Choir Tugs at the Heartstrings | work = The Age| date = 26 May 2007 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/choir-tugs-at-the-heartstrings/2007/05/24/1179601574945.html | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref><ref name="Brady">{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/handheld/articles/2007/11/18/1195321595443.html | title = The Emotional Journey | last = Brady | first = Nicole | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]| date = 19 November 2017 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> Stephens and his organisation, FremantleMedia Australia, created the [[ABC (Australian TV channel)|ABC TV]] five-part documentary series, ''Choir of Hard Knocks'', after pitching the idea to chronicle the formation and progress of a choir in Melbourne.<ref name="Hull"/> In 2005 Stephens had also learnt of the Montreal group and convinced Welch to participate in the documentary as music director and choirmaster.<ref name="Theodosiou"/>

The funding organisation behind the choir was managed by RecLink,<ref name="Collar">{{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/artist/choir-of-hard-knocks-mn0002076270/biography | title = Choir of Hard Knocks | Biography & History | publisher = [[AllMusic]] | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> which subsequently expanded its choir program nationally and later supported eight similar choirs around Australia including the Transformers, Choir of High Hopes Hobart, Sydney Street Choir and the Rocky Road Choir.

Recruiting was by word of mouth and through community organisations with rehearsals beginning in September 2006.<ref name="McManus">{{cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/homeless-choir-sings-to-the-beat-of-city-street/2006/10/20/1160851138182.html | work = The Age | title = Homeless Choir Sings to the Beat of City Street | last = McManus | first = Bridget | publisher = Fairfax Media | date = 21 October 2006 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> The original ensemble had 47 members.<ref name="Theodosiou">{{cite news | url = https://www.sbs.com.au/news/no-stopping-for-the-choir-of-hard-knocks-as-it-turns-10 | title = No stopping for the Choir of Hard Knocks as it turns 10 | last = Theodosiou | first = Peter | work = [[SBS World News|SBS News]] | publisher = [[Special Broadcasting Service]] (SBS) | date = 17 March 2016 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> Welch canvassed other charities for funding and support to advertise the choir's first rehearsal.<ref name="Collar"/> After six weeks of rehearsals, their premiere performance occurred in October 2016.<ref name="McManus"/> Bridget McManus of ''[[The Age]]'', observed, "the timing might not have been perfect, the soloist was a little shaky, and a wild-haired man at the back had a tendency to echo the last word of every line, but the infectious enthusiasm of the group belting out 'Blame It on the Boogie' – in unison, with all the actions – was hard to ignore. At the front of the group, by the Flinders Street Station steps, stood a spirited conductor on whom all singers' eyes were fixed despite the peak-hour bustle."<ref name="McManus"/> As at May 2007, the choir had about 50 members.<ref name="Deveny"/>

The choir raised money, initially, to record a CD single for promotion and individual sales, through [[busking]] in city streets. They also held a fund-raising concert at the [[Melbourne Town Hall]] on 7 March 2007.<ref name="Deveny"/><ref name="Cooke">{{cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/finding-each-other-choirs-greatest-success/2007/06/08/1181089329476.html | work = The Age | title = Finding each other choir's greatest success | last = Cooke | first = Dewi | date = 9 June 2007 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref><ref name="NLA Choir CD">{{Citation | author1=Choir of Hard Knocks | author2 = Welch, Jonathon | authorlink2 = Jonathon Welch | author3 = Barnes, Jimmy | authorlink3 = Jimmy Barnes | author4 = RecLink | author5 = ABC Music | authorlink5 = ABC Music | title = Choir of Hard Knocks: The Voice of RecLink | date = 2007 | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC): [[Universal Music Group]] [distributor] | url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/29186428 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> For that performance they were supported by [[Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus]] and by the Sydney Street Choir.<ref name="NLA Choir CD"/> Weekly broadcasts of the TV series commenced in early May 2007.<ref name="Cooke"/> The Choir of Hard Knocks later performed at the [[Sydney Opera House]], which was broadcast in a second series as ''Choir of Hard Knocks Opera House Special'' in November.<ref name="Screen Aus Opera">{{cite web | url = https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/choir-of-hard-knocks-opera-house-special-2007/26203/ | title = ''Choir of Hard Knocks Opera House Special'' | publisher = Screen Australia | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref><ref name="Low">{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv-reviews/choir-of-hard-knocks-opera-house-special/2007/11/23/1195753286094.html | title = Choir of Hard Knocks Opera House Special | last = Low | first = Lenny Ann | work = The Sydney Morning Herald| date = 25 November 2007 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref>

A self-titled companion CD to the first series, ''Choir of Hard Knocks: the Voice of RecLink'', was released on 26 May 2007 containing traditional songs, "[[Amazing Grace]]" and "[[Silent Night]]" and cover versions of pop rock tracks, "[[Flame Trees]]" (originally by [[Cold Chisel]]) and "[[Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song)|Hallelujah]]" ([[Leonard Cohen]]).<ref name="NLA Choir CD"/> Seven tracks were recorded at Sing Sing Studios, [[Richmond, Victoria|Richmond]], nine tracks were recorded live from their first Melbourne Town Hall concert.<ref name="NLA Choir CD"/> It was each and every member's first experience in a recording studio. The album peaked at No. 21 on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Albums Chart]] and remained in the top 50 for 16 weeks.<ref name="AUS Charts">{{cite web | url = http://www.australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Choir+Of+Hard+Knocks | title = Discography The Choir of Hard Knocks | work = Australian Charts Portal | publisher = Hung Medien | last = Hung | first = Steffen | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> At the end of that year it was certified as a platinum record for shipment of 70,000 units.<ref name="ARIA Cert 2007A">{{cite certification | region = Australia | type = album | certyear = 2007 | date = 31 December 2007 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> It appeared at No. 3 on ARIA's End of Year Charts – Top 50 Classical Albums 2007 and No. 46 on the next year's chart.<ref name="ARIA EoY Classical 2007">{{cite web | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-classical-2007.htm | title = ARIA Top 50 Classical Chart 2007 | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref><ref name="ARIA EoY Classical 2008">{{cite web | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-classical-2008.htm | title = ARIA Top 50 Classical Chart 2008 | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref>

An associated DVD of the same name was issued in August 2007 and became the second highest selling Australian documentary DVD for that year.<ref name="DVD sales">{{cite web | url = https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/fact-finders/video-and-online/australian-content/in-the-archive/top-australian-documentaries-to-2009 | title = Top 20 Australian documentary titles on video (DVD, Blu-ray and VHS), 2004–2009 | publisher = [[Screen Australia]] | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> Their second album, ''Songs of Hope and Inspiration'' was released on 7 December 2007, which reached No. 39.<ref name="AUS Charts"/> By the end of the following year it was certified gold for shipment of 35,000 copies.<ref name="ARIA Cert 2008A">{{cite certification | region = Australia | type = album | certyear = 2008 | date = 31 December 2008 | accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}</ref> It appeared at No. 9 on ARIA's End of Year Charts – Top 50 Classical Albums 2007 and No. 43 in the following year.<ref name="ARIA EoY Classical 2007"/><ref name="ARIA EoY Classical 2008"/> The DVD of the second series, ''Choir of Hard Knocks: Opera House Special'', was issued in November 2008.

== Television show ==
In 2005 [[FremantleMedia Australia]] producer [[Jason Stephens (actor)|Jason Stephens]] brought the idea of a television series called the Choir of Hard Knocks to the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]. In an interview on Australian Story by the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]], Stephens said "I'd always been quite fascinated by choirs. Living in Melbourne during that time 2005 the homelessness problem was more obvious, I guess. And I kind of thought it would be interesting to put those two ideas together to see if we could make a choir out of homeless and disadvantaged people." The ABC and Fremantle chose Reclink, a charity that had worked with homeless people in the past, as the charity that would work with the television construct and cast the choir conductor [[Jonathon Welch]].<ref name="ABC">{{cite news |date=2 September 2019 |title=The Final Bow |url=https://www.abc.net.au/austory/the-final-bow/11439114 |work=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

The five-part [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] documentary TV series of the same name, broadcast weekly from May 2007 and released two albums, ''Choir of Hard Knocks: the Voice of RecLink'' (26 May 2007), which peaked at No. 21 on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Albums Chart]], and ''Songs of Hope and Inspiration'' (7 December 2007), which reached No. 39. A DVD of the series also titled, ''Choir of Hard Knocks: the Voice of RecLink'', was issued in August. A second series in November 2007 followed the choir members preparing for a concert at the [[Sydney Opera House]]. In April 2009 the choir was replaced by the [[Choir of Hope and Inspiration]] after a falling-out between Welch and RecLink.

==Choir of Hope and Inspiration==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
Following a split between RecLink and Welch in March 2009, the latter formed a new not-for-profit entity, the Melbourne Street Choir, Inc (MSC). Supported by a ''[[pro bono]]'' committee of management (board), MSC focussed on a new choir and delivered a greater level of transparency and accountability to choir members in relation to all of its activities. Many members of the original choir followed Welch to the MSC which recommenced public performances from 29 April 2009 at the [[Melbourne International Jazz Festival]]. On 21 May Welch launched the [[Choir of Hope and Inspiration]] with a training choir, the Morning Bell Choir (named due to their training sessions beginning early in the day), while the main choir was established as the Choir of Pride & Joy.

==Discography==
=== Studio albums ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|edition=PDF|page=58}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''The Choir of Hard Knocks''
|
* Released: May 2007
* Label: ABC Classic (4766166)
* Formats: [[Compact Disc|CD]], [[Music download|digital download]]
| 21
|
*[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]: Platinum<ref name=aus/>
|-
! scope="row"| ''Songs of Hope and Inspiration''
|
* Released: December 2007
* Label: ABC Classic (4766347)
* Formats: CD, digital download
| 39
|
*ARIA: Gold<ref name=aus/>
|}

==Awards and nominations==
===ARIA Awards===
The [[ARIA Music Awards]] is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of [[Australian music]].<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/battlers-in-choir-reap-award/2007/10/15/1192300686630.html ''Sydney Morning Herald'', Battlers in Choir reap award, 16 October 2007]</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Award
! Work
! Result
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2007|2007]]
| [[ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album|Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album]]
| ''Choir of Hard Knocks''
| align="center" style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
| <ref name="ARIA2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2007 |title=ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2007: 21st Annual ARIA Awards |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) |access-date=13 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118143950/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2007 |archive-date=18 November 2007 }}</ref>
|}

===Logie Awards===
At the [[Logie Awards of 2008]], the first TV series won Most Outstanding Factual Series and was nominated for Most Popular Factual Program.<ref name="Logies 2008">{{cite web | url = http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie2008.html | title = 2008 Logie Awards | work = Australiantelevision.net | accessdate = 10 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="Logies History">{{cite web | url = http://www.tvweeklogieawards.com.au/logie-history/2000s/2008/ | title = 50th TV Week Logie Awards, 2008 | work = [[TV Week]] | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140126184027/http://www.tvweeklogieawards.com.au/logie-history/2000s/2008/ | archivedate = 26 January 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> At the [[8th Helpmann Awards]] in July 2008 their appearance at the Sydney Opera House, ''Choir of Hard Knocks: Live in Concert'', won Best Special Event.<ref name="Georgiou">Georgiou, Andrew: [http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/theatre/helpmann-awards-2008.aspx Helpmann Awards 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025105640/http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/theatre/helpmann-awards-2008.aspx |date=25 October 2009|accessdate = 10 February 2018 }}, ''Time Out Sydney'', 29 July 2008.</ref><ref name="Helpmann 2008">{{cite web|accessdate=10 February 2018 |url=http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=winners&year=2008 |title=2008 Helpmann Awards – Winners |publisher=Helpmann Awards |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021071438/http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=winners&year=2008 |archivedate=21 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://choirofhardknocks.org.au/our-journey Choir of Hard Knocks]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120923015339/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/hardknocks/ ''The Choir of Hard Knocks''] at ABC TV

{{homelessness in Australia}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Choir of Hard Knocks, The}}
[[Category:ARIA Award winners]]
[[Category:Australian choirs]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Homelessness in Australia]]
[[Category:Homelessness organizations]]

The Choir of Hard Knocks - Revision history

imported>Gonnym: /* top */ fix date; cleanup