Clearing hurdles: Andrew Harris finds his stride.

Andrew Harris has spent most of his life clearing hurdles.

Andrew Harris performing in the Sydney Street Choir.

On horseback, it’s literal. Off the field, the hurdles have looked different. But for the past eight years, he’s found a steady rhythm in the Sydney Street Choir.

A show jumping jockey since the age of five, Andrew travels across New South Wales, from Camden to Coffs Harbour, training horses and riding for owners.

But no matter how far he goes, Andrew will never miss a Tuesday in Sydney.

“That’s my rehearsal day,” he said. “I’m a choir singer. I always make sure I’m back.”

Music has been a constant for the 55-year-old. With a background in musical theatre, Andrew describes himself as a “triple threat,” having performed in productions like Chicago and West Side Story.

But singing offers Andrew something more than performance.

“I’ve got a stutter,” he said. “But you don’t stutter when you sing. You’re using a different part of your brain.”

He’s a familiar face in Redfern, also singing in the With One Voice choir. Still, his commitment to the Sydney Street Choir remains unwavering.

“I like to come back because I get to see all the smiley faces, and do those beautiful songs,” he said.

For Andrew, it’s more than music. It’s structure, camaraderie, and a reason to stay on track.

“The music fills you,” he said. “I love the harmony… how beautiful it sounds when you get it right.”

Today, he is one of the choir’s most enthusiastic champions, sharing videos and updates on social media to help grow what was once a group of twelve into the community it is now.

“I’d like to think I personally helped it grow,” he said.

In April, Andrew marked a highlight: opening the Sydney Street Choir’s 25th anniversary event alongside Australia’s leading didgeridoo player William Barton.

“It was a real honour,” he said. “A real highlight of my Sydney Street Choir time.”

They call him a “show pony,” he said with a laugh. But Andrew isn’t just performing. He’s found his stride.

The Sydney Street Choir is a thriving community supported by the PAYCE Foundation.