Sonya Eliopulos
Soprano
Sonya has been performing since her childhood in callisthenics/dance and school productions and as an adult in ballroom/latin, TV commercials, fashion, film, choir and musical theatre. She was previously a ballroom dance instructor and loves most genres of music, especially funk and soul. Gospel singing in Café allows one to be creative and enjoy the positive vibes from teamwork and beautiful harmonies!
Judith Foster
Soprano
I’ve have been singing in the choir since it began in the spring of 1986. The choir has always been a great collection of people and we’ve sung at some amazing events and for many good causes. The music we sing is inspiring and uplifting. These are the things that mean the most to me about the choir.
Zoe Vrachnas
Soprano
Zoe is an accomplished singer and violinist working as a wedding and events musician in Sydney. She has been a member of The Cafe since 2011 and credits the choir for much of her musical development in that time. It is a privilege and a joy to sing with such wonderfully kind and immensely talented people each week.
Scot Morris
Bass
Scot started singing in choirs as a boy soprano, RSCM etc and relished music through school and Uni – choirs, musicals, viola, piano etc. Lived in Avignon and sang in a baroque choir at the Avignon Conservatoire, came back to Sydney and discovered an amazing a cappella gospel choir that had recently started up – 27 years later and he's still singing in the café! Recalls when he started in the choir, he was managing front of house at the Dendy cinema, and the choir had done the soundtrack of Jan Campion's film “Sweetie” – the Dendy had the opening party and an amazing gig by the choir…..Now works in international music copyright, chasing up overseas royalties for our composers and songwriters…..
Tina McLeish
Soprano
I have loved music and dance for as long as I can remember. I performed in musicals such as The King and I and Godspell.
I love singing with the Cafe because it is my midweek pick me up. The magic we get to create by singing in four part harmony and to be able to perform in some pretty special places with some amazing musicians is an absolute honour. To see people be moved and stirred by our sound is just beautiful.
My favourite Cafe song to perform depends on the mood, but Asimbonanga, Reign in Jerusalem, Window in Heaven and Shine On are all favourites.
Cafes values are what keep us all together and I love when we are able to use our music to raise awareness and speak up for those like refugees who have had their rights taken away. Compassion, joy, listening to each other, improvisation, light and shade, respect, growth, lifting each other up, holding each other in high regard.
I love singing with the Cafe because it is my midweek pick me up. The magic we get to create by singing in four part harmony and to be able to perform in some pretty special places with some amazing musicians is an absolute honour. To see people be moved and stirred by our sound is just beautiful.
My favourite Cafe song to perform depends on the mood, but Asimbonanga, Reign in Jerusalem, Window in Heaven and Shine On are all favourites.
Cafes values are what keep us all together and I love when we are able to use our music to raise awareness and speak up for those like refugees who have had their rights taken away. Compassion, joy, listening to each other, improvisation, light and shade, respect, growth, lifting each other up, holding each other in high regard.
Pete Mahony
Tenor
Growing up in a time when families sang together during long car journeys, and harmonically at mass, I was finally inspired by the Beatles cartoon show to build my first guitar from a ruler and rubber bands. Folk mass, guitar pop vocal duets with my sister, the godless heartland of Neil Young, postpunk angst and defiance, then the Castanet Club (dags who do good) including the Edinburgh Festival. Meeting Tony & Judy Backhouse, and getting in on the ground floor of the early days of the Cafe. MD for Wogs Out of Work and Acropolis Now! Live. Lately, more your backyard ukulele player, with occasional lapses on drums and guitar. Recently graduated with a Masters of Teaching in secondary music, although my allergy to school staff-rooms flared up again. Luckily a Cafe-return is helping me keep my pitch up!
DJ Joseph
Bass
DJ has been performing in musical theatre for over 20 years and previously competed in dance competitions (Rock n’ Roll, Swing, Latin) and was Sydney, NSW and Australasian Swing Champion for 3 years,. He also enjoyed dancing at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremony. DJ First saw the choir performing in late 80s and dreamed one day of being part of it, a dream that came true in 2010 when he joined after taking singing lessons to build his confidence to audition!
Jody Houston
Soprano
Jody first learned to sing with her mother and grandmother, both established soprano singers. Learning the beauty of harmony early with the traditional spirituals in church and at various cultural events. Jody has had lessons at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre and with Sacha-Lee Kilgour, Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Vocal Alchemy. Jody has performed in various styles from barbershop; funk and soul, acoustic folk and wedding jazz as a soloist with the Piano Cat and Jazz by Jody.
Sofia Parish
Alto
Since an early age I've always loved singing. In high school my musical focus was primarily playing the cello, both individually and in various ensembles and orchestras. After moving to a new city to start university, I instead joined the university choir and I haved enjoyed singing in groups ever since. In 2010 I relocated to Sydney from my native Sweden, and after trying two other choirs I finally found the perfect one in 2012, COTGOS. Our rehearsal is one of the week's highlights for me, and I love that the choir has a strong focus on community and social justice. Gospel music is truly heart warming, it always leaves you feeling inspired and uplifted!
Tracey Greenberg
Alto
I had been singing in funk/soul bands for 10 years and had just about tired of having to scream over the top of guitarists, drummers, horns and timbales when I saw a sign in a Glebe cafe saying “Gospel choir forming, Buddhists welcome”, and my voice was saved! Tony Backhouse’s soulful arrangements of traditional African-American Gospel songs made my heart soar and I have become an Acappella convert .I love our ability to connect with an audience through voice, whether it’s original Gospel; our own original songs inspired by the African - American tradition; or some of the African roots music we perform that are so often liberation songs. I think our strengths are that we not only have brilliant soloists, but we also work hard, with Dynes Austin’s direction, to achieve a blend of our voices so that the soloists have a solid and sublime backing. And all without a Marshall Stack on stage!
Frank Zeichner
Bass
I’ve loved choral singing since being a teenager. The joy of making a communal sound that lifts both the singers and the audience was an unexpected surprise when an American, Rodney Rothlisberger, passionate about choral singing and deeply knowledgeable about the American choral tradition took over the choir for a couple of years at Melbourne High School. Later at “Badde Manors” in Glebe after a chance meeting with the Elevators and Tony Backhouse I became part of the quartet – what a hoot. At that time Tony had the gospel bug and we spent time listening and emulating groups like the Soul Stirrers and the Golden Gate Quartet – and often with original music written by Tony. Small wonder, that it would lead to me joining the “Café’ which Tony started soon after – albeit it took me 17 years to do it. God knows why it took me so long.
Lyle Steffensen
Soprano
Long time fan and #1 Tea Towel seller of COTGOS, Lyle recently joined as a soprano in 2023. Lyle has always loved singing, having grown up in South Africa with choir always part of her life in church as a young person, and as an adult in several community choirs. Lyle loves singing with these, "her" people, and hopes to do so for as long as she has voice.
Tracey Case
Alto
I have a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Theatre and have worked professionally as a singer and actor for over 30 years. I love all types of music but am especially drawn to the power and passion of Gospel music and ensemble singing. I have an incredible husband and two amazing children and have been with COTGOS since 2006.
Michelle Campbell
Alto
Michelle started singing when she was 5 years old, according to her mum, and she hasn't stopped since. Teenage years spent singing country harmonies were followed by singing with various bands performing around the Illawarra, and even a 2 week stint with a choir performing in Uganda. She joined Cafe in 2012 and is overjoyed to be part of such a talented and amazing bunch of singers!,
Jane Brew
Soprano
I have loved singing for as long as I can remember! School choirs, bands and small ensembles were a wonderful way to get together with friends and make joyful sounds. I initially studied singing under classical soprano Judith Turner and later with jazz singer Joy Yates and have enjoyed singing in a variety of styles from rock bands to classical eisteddfods and musical theatre. I feel really privileged to be part of The Cafe as the uplifting spirit of gospel music is something quite unique. The Cafe is amazing in the heart its members have for the music as well as for supporting social justice causes... and there's nothing like seeing your own smile reflected back at you from someone in the audience when you are performing!
Monica Sa
Soprano
I had been a fan of the choir for many years before seeing Cafe's 25th anniversary concert in 2011, after which I was inspired to audition. I had just moved to Sydney after 8 years of living in Canberra and singing with the Strange Weather Gospel Choir, and knew no other choir would do. Rehearsals are joyous and therapeutic, and performing with Cafe is an honour.
Stephanie King
Alto
I have always loved to sing - especially in part harmony - church choirs, school productions and the odd dodgy folk band. After a dry spell I joined a community choir run by Stuart Davis which introduced me to Sydney's Acapella community. That led to a gospel class with the wonderful Tony Backhouse and that was it for me! The class morphed into The Honeybees but I always dreamed of singing with Cafe. Eventually I got there in 2004. After all this time I am still inspired by the music (Tony’s amazing arrangements), my fellow choir members and the groups commitment to social justice.
Kent Crawford
Tenor
Kent describes first hearing COTGOS perform at a wedding in the mid-1990's as a life-changing moment. It began his journey of singing in the gospel acapella style in choirs and occasional collaborations, though it took until 2015 for him to audition and then become part of COTGOS.
Kent sings Tenor and describes our rehearsals as his weekly investment in joy. He is passionate about building community and the power of our music and the traditions we are a part of to draw people together.
Kent sings Tenor and describes our rehearsals as his weekly investment in joy. He is passionate about building community and the power of our music and the traditions we are a part of to draw people together.
Cat Dominguez
Alto
Cat is a Filipino-Australian actor, singer, and graduate of both WAAPA and the Sydney Con. Cat fell in love with soul, gospel, and r&b music in her teens, which sparked a life-long passion for storytelling and performing. The choir has been such a joyful and safe space for her over the years and she is so grateful to be part of the Café family.
Shona Gallagher
Alto
My favourite Café song is "Love and Joy". This song captures everything I love about singing with Café especially as I am an aethiest. Performing with the composers, Trace Greenberg and Tony Backhouse, is a huge added bonus. Growing up, I was one of those kids who never stopped singing. I trained through my teens in Newcastle with mezzo-soprano Irene Waugh and performed for years with the NBN Television Childrens Choir. In those days, musical director John Foreman was a boy soprano, and our piano accompanist was Brian Castles-Onion. I loved performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Bach's St Matthew Passion and Handel's Messiah, but my music world really came alive when I disovered Nina Simone and Joe & Eddie among my parents’ record collection. I left Newcastle to complete a Bachelor of Theatre/Media at CSU Bathurst. I have performed with various Sydney a cappella groups, including Stuart Davis' Ising On The Cake. I joined Café in 2015.
Claire O'Rourke
Alto
For Claire, Cafe is pure bliss: love, joy and music for all. After learning how to sing at high school, Claire confined her singing to lullabies for her babies and the odd collaboration before joining Cafe as an alto in 2016.
Fi Lamb - Assistant Musical Director
Alto
Fiona's background is in the Uniting Church, and it was thanks to church friends that she saw COTGOS for the first time at the Basement in 1994. Since then she has been an avid follower of the choir until joining in 2008, and has been involved in various gospel acappella groups over the last 18 years including Crossfocus, Honeybees, Sweet Spirit Quartet, Holy Trinity, Heavens to Betsy, Northern Lights. Highlights include Womadelaide in 1998, Directing and Composing for local and international choirs, Coordinating Gospel festivals and participating in 3 gospel music study tours in USA with Tony Backhouse in 1997, 1999. Fi was also musical director of the tour in 2002 and will always remember the magnificent experiences in Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans, and Baptist House of Prayer in Harlem New York. She loves the spiritual aspect of the choir's music, its commitment to social justice, and its culture of acceptance of all people regardless of faith. Fi is the Assistant Musical Director of COTGOS and Director of "Untamed Melody" community choir 2011- current.
Cheryl Craig
Soprano
Cheryl has had a passion for Gospel music since an early age. Born in Detroit Michigan; she has been
tapping into the rich history of African American Soul , Motown and Gospel music.
Since moving to Sydney in 2002 , Cheryl has been involved in various bands, singing groups and musical
theatre. She has also taught singing and was involved with the worship team at Hillsong Church for over
8 years.
Cheryl became involved with the Café of the Gate of Salvation back briefly in 2002, and has now
returned to the choir for the last 4 years.She has now been the Assistant Musical Director since 2013.
She is incredibly honored and grateful to be a part of such an amazing, powerful and beautiful choir.
tapping into the rich history of African American Soul , Motown and Gospel music.
Since moving to Sydney in 2002 , Cheryl has been involved in various bands, singing groups and musical
theatre. She has also taught singing and was involved with the worship team at Hillsong Church for over
8 years.
Cheryl became involved with the Café of the Gate of Salvation back briefly in 2002, and has now
returned to the choir for the last 4 years.She has now been the Assistant Musical Director since 2013.
She is incredibly honored and grateful to be a part of such an amazing, powerful and beautiful choir.