We are based at the Portland Arts Centre on the corner of Glenelg and Bentinck Streets, Portland. For rehearsal sessions we use either the Meeting Room at the rear of the complex, or the stage area of the Auditorium, depending on the number of choristers.

We are fortunate to have the use of quality pianos in both locations: A Yamaha upright in the meeting room and a Yamaha C3 Grand in the Auditorium.

We have the use of a small kitchen, for coffee breaks and the Arts Centre toilets.

The PAC Meeting Room

The PAC meeting room contains cupboards for storage for some of the CEMA Groups, including the Portland Choral Group. It is here that we have our library of sheet music, which is housed in filing cabinets specially made for the purpose. So it is especially convenient to rehearse here.

The meeting room has lino floors, plaster walls and acoustic tiles in the ceiling. The acoustics are excellent for choral work, providing plenty of feedback and life to support the voices but without the harshness and excessive reverb one gets from singing on concrete.

The meeting room's size is ideal for a small to medium choir, the voices filling the space with no effort.

The upright piano is a recent Yamaha, kept in concert pitch and is owned by Portland CEMA Inc.

The Euphemia Anderson Auditorium

For medium choir sizes upwards, the meeting room becomes a little too small and we move to the stage area of the Auditorium, which provides plenty of room for all but the largest choirs. This is also where we put on many of our concerts, and it is good to rehearse in the same space where we perform.

The hardwood floor and rendered walls produce a good acoustic for choral work, though it is not as strong as the meeting room. The larger space of the Auditorium takes a bit more effort to fill it but this is still easily achieved by a medium sized choir.

We have the use of a lovely Yamaha C3 Grand when we use this space, and a really good piano does add to the quality of the choir.

The Woolcock Gallery

For a small choir the Woolcock Gallery, located in the west side of the complex, is also good, providing an extremely intimate space with tremendous acoustic support. This is not suitable for all music, but is very rewarding for vocal quartets, or slow church music.