Borboleta Preta
Brazilian Choir
Australia's first all-Brazilian repertoire choir, BORBOLETA Preta, sings in beautiful Portuguese with a hearty dose of groove and good vibes - get amongst it - great experience.
Gig - vocês e vozes
Borboleta Preta with Sonidos del Alma Spanish-language Choir double bill. Proudly presented by The Boîte. 2:30 pm, Sunday 25 October, Church of All Nations | 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053. Tickets: $30 Full / $25 Conc
Two choirs. Two languages. One Latin America. VOCES + VOZES Ticket Link: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1656292
Our story
BORBOLETA PRETA (Black Butterfly) is a lively group of culture & travel-loving singers and musicians who joyously share and perform Música Brasileira.
Delivering a rich, groove-based repertoire in a colour-bursting ensemble, the 25+ voices of Borboleta Preta Choir present samba, folk & MPB music of Brazil.
Originally formed in 2001 (known then as Borboleta) by Melbourne vocalist/conductor Diana Clark.
After a 12-year hiatus, Borboleta was reborn online during lockdown when Diana (Melb) & Mila (Rio) ran Virtual Brazilian Choir Lab 'Braz Oz' from 2021 - 2022.
During our first live sing after 2 years online, we were surrounded by black butterflies (with white spots), and strangely, Mila in Rio was surrounded by the same butterflies that week… a sign! Borboleta Preta was born.
Participants come from diverse cultural backgrounds and travel distances from Bendigo, Healesville and Flinders for a fortnightly rehearsal in Melbourne.
We enjoy exploring Brazilian language & culture as part of our ongoing shared semester... Recently, 12 of us took an opportunity to travel and immerse ourselves in the 'Harmony Brazil' tour in June/July '25. It was life-changing, inspirational, truly magical.
We are taking new members - come and try a rehearsal session, sing along and see if this is the uplifting choir you've been looking for <3
Inquiries - SMS/WhatsApp
Sandy Clinton +61 0432 240 427 /
Email: sandyc3@live.com.au to register your interest in joining the group!
BrazOz choir 'Borboleta Preta' rehearses fortnightly in Bentleigh, Melbourne
Sundays 1:30 PM-4 PM
Sing in beautiful Portuguese with a hearty dose of groove and good vibes - great experience.
Term 4 dates here:
Upcoming Rehearsals
(Sundays) 1:30-4 PM, some Saturday sectionals
Term 4 Rehearsals:
Sun: 11 Oct 1:30-1:30 PM
Sectionals 17/18 Oct: Tenor/Bari 11-1 PM; Altos 2:30-4:30 PM
Gig: Sun 25th October, 2:30 PM
Borboleta Preta with Sonidos del Alma Spanish language Choir double bill Proudly presented by The Boîte 2:30pm, Sunday 25 October Church of All Nations | 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053 Tickets: $30 Full / $25 Conc
vocês e vozes
TryBooking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1656292
Two choirs. Two languages. One Latin America. VOCES + VOZES is a celebration of language, culture, community and the joy of singing together. Join Sonidos del Alma and Borboleta Preta for an uplifting celebration of the extraordinary musical diversity of Latin America. Singing in Spanish and Portuguese, the two Melbourne choirs come together for an evening that travels through the songs, rhythms and stories of Latin America, from Afro/Indigenous traditions and beloved popular songs to the contagious energy of Brazilian music.
Directed by Colombian singer-songwriter Iaki Vallejo, Sonidos del Alma brings together voices through a shared love of the Spanish language and Latin American song.
Borboleta Preta Brazilian Choir brings the colour, rhythm and warmth of Brazilian music to Melbourne through songs in Portuguese, from samba and folk to MPB. Choir members enjoy rich harmonies, lively grooves and the special opportunity to share in a joyful musical community led by director, singer/ conductor Diana Clark (Akasa/ Boite Millennium Chorus/ Doug de Vries/ Harmony Brazil).
Together, the choirs create a musical conversation between cultures, connecting South America, Central America and the wider Latin American world through harmony, rhythm and collective song. Proudly presented by The Boîte 2:30 pm, Sunday 25 October Church of All Nations | 180 Palmerson St, Carlton VIC 3053 Tickets: $30 Full / $25 Conc
Boîte Event Website Link: https://www.boite.com.au/event-details/the-boite-presents-vocesvozes-songs-of-latin-america
Term 4 rehearsal schedule continued:
Rehearsal Sun 8 Nov 1:30-4 PM
Sun 22nd Nov 2-4:15 PM
Samba by the Sea Roda/concert event TBA
Sun 6th Dec (6-8 pm; time tbc) Mentone, Vic.
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Location: Sundays fortnightly at
St John’s Anglican Church,
624 Centre Rd (corner Tucker Rd), Bentleigh
Term fees $160/ $120 concession. Paid in a block at the beginning of each term
Sing in beautiful Portuguese with a hearty dose of groove and good vibes - great experience.
New singers welcome
- (trial fee is $35/$25 conc.)
Inquiries -
SMS/ WhatsApp Sandy at +61 0432 240 427 or sandyc3@live.com.au to register your interest
Made in 2022 @Bossa Nova Boot Camp - vocal masterclasses & Brazilian music Education LAB & @The Brazilian Music Experience 🧡
The Brazilian Virtual Choir Lab 2022 ‘Braz Oz’ - A Voz do Morro (Zé Keti) - samba clip
Recorded in 2021 singers from Australia and Portugal - Song: Desde que o Samba é Samba Composer: Caetano Veloso Arrangement: Patricia Costa e Vicente Costa Nucci (Lab Choir director and conductor)
Gigs
Sunday, Oct 25th 2:30-4:30 pm, Carlton: Boîte Event Website Link: https://www.boite.com.au/event-details/the-boite-presents-vocesvozes-songs-of-latin-america
Sunday, Dec 6th, 6- 8 pm (time tbc), Mentone
Hire our Brazilian Choir for your event!
Borboleta Preta Fundraiser for Emiliano, Melb. Nov 2025
CONTACT US
Diana Clark (Director)
E: bossanovabootcamp@gmail.com
WhatsApp/SMS: +61 433 855 580
Signing Mama Africa (Chico Cesar/Diana Clark) with sister choir in Manaus, Amazonas
“I participated in both Brazilian virtual choir Labs in Australia 2021 & 2022, which built beautifully; my ability to pronounce words has come on a lot, and my brain doesn’t have to work as hard – I’m starting to recognise words and patterns… I hear the beauty of the language, and putting it in context helps me to focus on the feeling of the song. You outline it so beautifully for us, thank you.” Sandy, Healesville.
“I’ve had plenty of musical experience with Brazilian music – your course has helped me bring my knowledge base up to the next level in the most enjoyable way – thank you very much.” Justin, Preston.
The Harmony Brazil Tour - testimonial:
”What a wonderful way to experience the music, people & culture of Brazil. The harmony created in the voices singing together permeated into the friendliness of the group & the warm exchanges with the Brazilians we met. A great way to combine travel & immerse yourself in the joyful rhythms of Brazilian
music. Muito obrigada!” Catrina Seiffert (Borboleta pianist & soprano)
Turns out performing in a samba club and being part of a flash mob under Cristo Redentor was on the bucket list I didn’t know I had…
“To meet people who value the same forms of expression was a gift that will stay with me for a long time. And it was a heck of a lot of fun - I haven’t laughed so much in ages thanks to my roomie. The immersion allowed us to focus in depth on imbuing our singing with colour and nuance, thanks to some amazing choir directors, all with different styles…our exposure to a tiny slice of the Brazilian music scene. It was fascinating.” Liz Lopes, Melb