Ms Martin is one of 80 women from western and north-western Sydney who perform in the acclaimed a cappella group Circular Keys Chorus.

The chorus won a silver medal at the Australian Sweet Adelines national championships and were invited to represent Australia at the Sweet Adelines International Chorus finals, in Nashville, Tennessee in October 2009.

Ms Martin, who is a contralto, joined the chorus in 2000 when she arrived in Sydney and wanted to join a group and meet people.

"I loved singing from school and university. It's a wonderful experience to sing with other people. It's good for the body, mind and soul. I just love it,'' Ms Martin said.

"It is a great group of people. Sometimes we sing in nursing homes and it is a thrill to see the audience enjoy it so much.''

Circular Keys, with members aged from their 20s to 70s, perform a cappella music (without instrumental accompaniment) arranged in four-part barbershop harmony.

Among its members are performers from the quartet Accolade, which will represent Australia at the international quartet finals in Honolulu this November, and Double Shot, the recent winners of the "open vocal'' section of the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge.

The group will next perform on July 27 in Voices@Norths: Sydney Harmony & Friends In Concert, at the North Sydney Leagues Club in Cammeray.

The chorus rehearses once a week at St Joseph's in Castle Hill.