He founded the group at UWA 10 years ago.
“Any member of the public can go into St George’s College into the chapel at 6pm on any Thursday while we’re in term time and hear the fruits of the labour of these students,” he said.
“We don’t expect applause or money; we’re just doing that thing we believe we do well so that people can enjoy it.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“Sometimes we have very few people there, sometimes a lot more – 30, 40, 90.”
The choir will celebrate its |anniversary this month with a performance alongside Pipe Organ Plus.
MORE: Hecklers gather outside Paddo to protest against Pauline Hanson
MORE: Swan Animal Haven appealing for volunteers
MORE: Cloverdale woman reunited with brother after nearly 70 years apart
MORE: Where to vote (and get a sausage) in the WA State Election
Past and present members will sing, taking the usual group number of 26 to about 60.
“The highlight of running the choir for me has been the formation of a kind of community,” Bannan said.
“This is evident in the fact that so many members want to come back and take part in this concert.
“Part of the way that we have achieved that is to build the teamwork that has been necessary for members to perform about 50 times a year, once a week or more.
“We do a lot of touring as well. We have been to China, Singapore, Geraldton, Albany, Kalgoorlie and Bunbury and have performed and made CDs in New Norcia.
“It is quite an intensive experience only possible when you have a real sense of loyalty and mutual support and that’s what I really associate most with the choir – it’s a big family.”
When Bannan came to work at the university in 2006, choral |activity was minimal.
“I was working in music education and was somewhat shocked to realise that a lot of the future music teachers had never sung in a choir despite doing a degree for three years before that,” Bannan said.
“So we now have five choirs at UWA and Winthrop was the first one that I formed. One of the main things we did from the start was to look outside the school of music to people who enjoyed singing at a high level but were studying engineering or psychology or medicine.
“It has been very useful in helping to create a particular |social mix.”
The year 2017 also marks the 17th concert season for Pipe Organ Plus.
The Pipe Organ Plus Concert Season Launch Anniversary program combines organ and choral favourites with music by Haydn, Mendelssohn, Howells, Handel and Stanford.