Bob Hannam had long had an itch to perform that he needed to scratch.

But it wasn’t until he was 53-years-old that the Camp Mountain resident first flexed his vocal chords after joining the Samford-based community chorale group Choir With Passion.

“I strum away on a guitar a little bit just for myself, so this was just a good way of being able to do something better,” Mr Hannam said.

Mr Hannam said musical talent or past experience wasn’t a prerequisite to join the community choir, founded in 2006 by musical director Helen Bub-Connor and now boasting around 25 members.

“There are couple of people in the choir who have musical talents and abilities, but most of them just enjoy the experience of being in a choir,” he said.

“I have no background in performance at all, I just love music and it’s a lot of fun.

“You can hide in choir so you can enjoy singing but you don’t have to be a soloist.”

As well as 18th Century rounds, folk, modern, Australian and improvised music, Choir With Passion’s wide-ranging repertoire also includes music places such as Guatemala, Georgia and Africa.

“Often the music that we’re singing is not in English, but you end up memorising it and it’s quite interesting to do because you’re not only learning the song but learning pronunciations at well,” Mr Hannam said.

“I love the African stuff, we’ve done a couple of American gospel music – I’m not a religious person at all – but I love that sort of music.”

Choir With Passion performs at local senior citizens homes, at Samford’s annual Christmas in the Village event and at the group’s own annual gala concerts.

The not-for-profit choir is looking to expand its performance opportunities in 2010 and beyond.

People interested in joining Choir With Passion only have to wait until 1 February, when the group meets for a come and try night at the Farmers Hall, Main Street, Samford Village.

For more information about the evening, which starts at 7pm, phone Helen on 0414 392 458 or email ocean.riders@bigpond.com