Zoe is an accomplished singer and violinist working as a wedding and events musician in Sydney. She has been a member of 'Cafe' since 2011 and credits the choir for much of her musical development in that time. Zoe has been Assisant Conductor since 2023, under MD Tony Backhouse. "It is a privilege and a joy to sing with such wonderfully kind and immensely talented people each week."

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 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 Tony Backhouse'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!

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. 

Fiona saw COTGOS for the first time at the Basement in 1994 then became an avid follower of the choir until joining in 2008, and was appointed Assistant Director that same year. Fi has been involved in various gospel acappella groups over the last 30 years including Crossfocus, Honeybees, Sweet Spirit Quartet, Holy Trinity, Heavens to Betsy, Northern Lights and It’s A Gospel Nation. Highlights include Womadelaide 1998, Bendigo Gospel Festival 2002, directing,  composing and arranging for local and international choirs, and coordinating Gospel events for the Sydney A Cappella Association. Fi participated in 3 gospel music study tours in USA with Tony Backhouse in 1997, 1999 and 2002 when she took over the musical direction of the tour.  Fi 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 reconciliation, and its culture of acceptance of all people regardless of faith.

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!

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 – nearly 40 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 Jane Campion's film “Sweetie” – the Dendy had the opening party and an amazing gig by the choir…..had a career in international music copyright, chasing up overseas royalties for our composers and songwriters…..

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.

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!,

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.

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!