Just a decade after the Choir of Hard Knocks began changing lives of homeless people, 40 members are travelling around the country for the choir’s first national tour.

Founded by artistic director Jonathon Welch in 2006, the choir is made up of people who live on and off the streets, have suffered addiction problems, or are disadvantaged.

To celebrate 10 years, the choir has performed in Brisbane, Perth, Alice Springs and Sydney, and sung in Melbourne on Sunday along with 250 other singers.

Welch said music helps people find meaning in their lives, and inspires them.

“We’re there to make music and have fun. You can see the confidence and self-esteem that singing together builds with the choir members” he said.

“So many of the members have gone on to full time study and work.”

Welch said the regular contact hours and rehearsals with choir members helped those making changes in their life to stay on track.

Over the past 10 years, exposure of the choir has grown dramatically and has inspired other street choirs across the country, and overseas.

Choir has overcome challenges, director says

Welch said keeping the choir going had not been without its challenges.

“The choir has gone through some difficult times, we’ve lost some choir members and also we’ve struggled financially to keep the choir going, the last six years in particular,” he said.

Welch said the national tour – Hope and Inspiration – was about helping to rebuild the brand of the choir and let the public know they were still singing.

Choir of Hard Knocks artistic director Jonathon Welch leads a rehearsal. Photo: ABC

Brendan Toy, 59, has been living on the streets or in people’s garages since the age of 16.

Mr Toy joined the choir four years ago.

“[Without them] I’d still be on the streets, just trying to survive. It’s not a very nice place to be on the streets.”

Now living in a house, he said the choir was like a family.

“They are unbelievable, my brothers and sisters.”

But the choir is not just for people who have found themselves without a home.

Franks Butters who used to sing before he suffered a stroke in 2009, had to learn how to speak again.

He said the choir gave him hope of recovering.

“When I sing, I look at the audience and you can see on their faces that it has a healing power. Music is the language of the world,” he said.

“It’s bough back my passion for music and it’s also empowered me.”

Patrons of the choir include Australian musician Mark Holden, who wrote a song being performed on the tour, and Indigenous soprano Deborah Cheetham.

The choir has performed more than 300 concerts in Australia.

-ABC