WAY back in October 1998, Moya Simpson formed a community choir called Worldly Goods for a one-off project planned to last three months.

Thirteen years later, that choir is still going strong and they’re now teenagers

With world music as the repertoire, Worldly Goods is open to anyone, audition-free and songs are learned by ear.

With numbers always around 70 at any one time, the sound is joyous. Over the years there have been births, deaths, marriages and enduring friendships.

The choir has represented the ACT at the Bendigo Gospel Festival, been part of a Centenary of Federation event called Candid Canberra, mixed Beatles songs with Georgian folk song in “John, Paul, Ringo and Georgia” at the Hobart Voices Festival, and workshopped with choirs in a trip to South
Africa.

As the sun sets on Lake Ginninderra, Belconnen Arts Centre will ring with “Belco Belto”, 13 years of songs in 90 minutes, along with guest spots from Shortis and Simpson. There will be songs of Macedonian gypsies, Georgian toasts, Croatian love songs, South African chants, Pygmy yodels, French Christmas carols, Beatles, Queen, Shortis originals and even Canberran ditties.

Any profits will go towards the cost of Worldly Goods’ first CD, due out in 2012.

Worldly Goods will perform at Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, 5.30pm, Sunday November 13. Bookings to 6173 3300 or www.belconnenartscentre.com.au