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Join Brisbane City Sounds for a Fashion Parade with
 Singing! Afternoon tea! and
Shopping!

Come join the chorus for a series of vocal education workshops and learn to sing in four part harmony.

Four Thursday evenings from 6.30-8pm at Newmarket Hall, Cost only $50.

October 22/29 and November 12/19

Join us to learn vocal production and four part harmony, as well as some of our Christmas songs so you can perform with the chorus at our Christmas concert on November 27. 

• learning about vocal projection styles and some vocal pathologies to be aware of;
• trying out new and inspiring interpretations for our songs;
• having lots of casual fun at our Saturday night talent show.

"Dressed in Green and Gold"

BCS shines at Christmas!

Many people may slow down with the approach of the Christmas season, but for Brisbane City Sounds this is one of the busiest times of the year. We had a stormy start with the Bardon Christmas Carols, but of course the rain was very welcome. 

Next was our Family and Friends Christmas Show, held at the Lavalla Centre, and followed by a sumptuous spread of Christmas goodies and a wonderful time of socialising with family and friends, old and new.

Our annual appearance at St Gerard Majella’s spectacular light festival was once again a memorable occasion. The audience was in good voice and participated enthusiastically, and Hayley, our new musical director, added some lovely solo carols.

Our final engagement for the year was a roving performance of carols at the Story Bridge Hotel. Although we sometimes struggled to be heard, we eventually found some quieter spots where the patrons not only appreciated our singing, but sang along with gusto to the carols in the song sheets provided.

Amongst all these engagements we also found time to have a celebratory dinner at the Paddo Hotel, and yes – we couldn’t help singing just a bit to the other patrons in the dining room!

We send all our friends and supporters our best wishes for a wonderful and exciting year in 2020!


BCS at our annual Christmas Show


Hanging out with Santa prior to carols at Bardon

Feature image: BCS performs at St Gerard Majella church

BCS Members Love To Learn!

A common goal of BCS members is to always keep learning and improving our vocal skills. An excellent way to achieve this is to welcome visiting coaches, who always add new approaches and insights to our performances. So far this year, we have benefitted from the skills and wisdom of an impressive complement of coaches at our Thursday night rehearsals: past Murrumbidgee Magic Chorus director Jill Harris, former BCS director Rose McGee, Glenda Lloyd – director of international award-winning chorus Brindabella – and most recently, international coach Lynda Keever, who is a Sweet Adelines International faculty member and contest judge. Glenda’s visit also included a weekend of intensive coaching for the choir, which has given us additional confidence in our abilities and allowed us to grow our sound. We are always appreciative of the education we are able to receive from the vast network of Sweet Adelines International coaches. 

Feature image: Glenda Lloyd poses with the chorus

BCS and Special Guests Celebrate International Women’s Day

BCS took to the streets with special guests – participants in our annual Vocal Education Program (VEP) – to celebrate International Women’s Day. The combined choir performed as a flashmob at three locations around South Bank, singing “I am Woman”. Visitors to South Bank were surprised by and appreciative of our performances! From South Bank, we all progressed to Betty’s Espresso & Bar in South Brisbane for the launch party of 'Ho'made' – a celebration of women in the arts – at which we were invited to perform. This event was so well attended that our performance had to take place on the footpath outside! BCS sang two songs, and the VEP participants joined us for three rounds we had learned in rehearsal, and “I am Woman”. The spirited and rowdy crowd paused to listen to our singing, and provided enthusiastic acclamation.

The VEP started on 14 February and ran for 4 weeks. A group of 25 impressive women received vocal instruction from members of the BCS Music Team, and learned to sing “I am Woman” in four part harmony. We are very happy to report that some of our VEP participants decided to audition for BCS, and we now have three new members. Congratulations to Jane, Leila and Helen!

Feature image: BCS members and VEP participants at South Bank for International Women’s Day  


Above: Members of BCS and our Vocal Education Program celebrate International Women's Day. 


Above: New members, Helen (bass), Jane (baritone) and Leila (lead). 

Brisbane City Sounds' Vocal Education Program 2019

If you have you always dreamed of singing in an accomplished vocal group, and would like to learn about vocal techniques and a cappella singing, we’d love to see you at our 2019 Vocal Education Program!

Our chorus includes women’s voices of all ranges – from high to very low. If you feel your voice is too low for the standard soprano and alto range, we particularly want to hear from you!

Our four-week vocal education program will run from 14 February to 7 March 2019, each Thursday from 7pm to 8:30pm. You’ll learn to sing in four-part harmony, and discover how to improve your own singing technique. At the conclusion of the program, you will have the opportunity to perform with us to celebrate International Women’s Day on the evening of Friday 8 March.

Registration is $100, which includes learning materials and group vocal tuition. 

The program will be held at our regular rehearsal venue:

Lavalla Centre
58 Fernberg Road
Paddington, Qld 4064

Rehearsal 1:  Thu 14 Feb, 7–8:30pm
Rehearsal 2:  Thu 21 Feb, 7–8:30pm
Rehearsal 3:  Thu 28 Feb, 7–8:30pm
Rehearsal 4:  Thu 7 Mar, 7–8:30pm
International Women’s Day celebration:  Fri 8 Mar, evening

Register now: www.trybooking.com/YPJU

For more information, contact Kim via info@brisbanecitysounds.com.au  or  0433 152 247.


Feature image:  Participants from the 2018 Vocal Education Program

An A Cappella Christmas

A festive crowd gathered in Sacred Heart Church at Paddington for BCS’s fourth annual Christmas concert on Friday 30 November. The beautiful church was the perfect setting for the soaring harmonies of the chorus and quartets Sparkling Blends, Kit ‘n’ Kaboodle and Mockingbird as they sang carols old and new. For the first time, we were joined by special guest choir Bardo Voce, from Bardon State School.

The crowd snapped up baked goods and refreshments at interval, and donated generously to support BCS’s chosen charity, Share the Dignity's “It's In The Bag” campaign. With the donations received, we put together 37 bags of items for women and teenage girls in need. 

Our final performance for the year was at the St Gerard Majella Christmas Festival on Wednesday 19 December, amid their spectacular Christmas lights display. Children in the audience enjoyed singing along with a few of our songs, and even helped Kelly with the musical direction!

BCS sends our best wishes to all our friends and supporters for a wonderful festive season and an exciting year in 2019!

BCS Quartets Go To Town!

Quartets from Brisbane City Sounds performed in Burnett Lane as part of Brisbane Open House, a festival that offered behind-the-scenes access to buildings across the city on the weekend of 13–14 October.

Those who braved the rain and ventured into the city were well entertained by three quartets from BCS – Sparkling Blends, Kit ’n’ Kaboodle and Mockingbird – singing both as quartets and octets. The weather may have been cold and wet, but the reception from the crowd was warm!



An octet featuring members of Mockingbird and Sparkling Blends



Sparkling Blends – Michelle, Natalie, Kate and Sheryl

Feature image:  Kit ’n’ Kaboodle – Leela, Jess, Sheryl and Glen 

 

An A Cappella Christmas

Book Your Christmas Entertainment!

Now is the perfect time to book BCS as the entertainment for your Christmas party – don’t miss out as Christmas is our busiest time of year! We can add class to your event with traditional and contemporary seasonal music sung in exquisite four-part harmony. Contact our Events Coordinator now via: events@brisbanecitysounds.com.au. 

Julie Takes Up The Baton

Not only is Julie Edwards the Team Coordinator and Tenor Section Leader for BCS, she has now taken on the additional role of Assistant Director! Julie has been a member of our choir for over five years, and is obviously very adept at juggling hats. We look forward to benefitting from the skills she brings to this challenging role. Congratulations Julie! 

Together with Musical Director Kelly Shepard, Julie heads the newly restructured music team: Barbara Poole (Bass Section Leader), Veronika Liljeqvist (Baritone Section Leader), Glen Lockington (Lead Section Leader), Jessica Harriden (Visual Chair) and Maree Connors (Music Team Coordinator). Our members are thankful for the contributions of our talented musical leaders, and we look forward to what we can achieve together in future. 

Welcome Lisa, Diana and Deirdre!

After completing a three-month onboarding program, three candidates were voted in as full members of BCS in July. Diana,Deirdre and Lisa, who all sing lead, took part in our vocal education program in February. Following a successful audition, they commenced the onboarding program, which required them to learn three new songs and receive instruction on vocal technique and performance skills.

Onboarding offers prospective members a chance to fully understand what membership of the chorus involves. The new members recently performed with the chorus at our Mamma Mia movie afternoon at Palace Barracks Cinemas. We look forward to many more performances with these talented women!

Photo: New members Lisa, Diana (with Twinklebee!) and Deirdre

Successful Movie Afternoon Fundraiser for BCS

BCS Entertains Wheller Residents

the engagement.


Liliana entertains the crowd

Feature image: Kit 'n' Kaboodle and Sparkling Blends team up

BCS Joins Brisbane Sings for a Second Year

Rehearsals are in full swing for this year’s Brisbane Sings performance at Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The theme this year is Disney and music from the 80’s, which is fun to sing and will be entertaining for the audience.

BCS members will join with a massed choir of 500 voices, and a small group from BCS will perform one of our favourite songs, “Throw Your Arms Around Me”.

This joyful and colourful spectacle will be held on Sunday 12 August at 5pm, and will raise funds for charity partner Mummy’s Wish. Buy a ticket and come along – you will not be disappointed!

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Get ready for a fun afternoon’s entertainment when Brisbane City Sounds hosts a screening of the much-anticipated sequel to the Mama Mia movie – Mama Mia! Here We Go Again. As usual, BCS will entertain you with a few songs and a glass of bubbly or orange juice before the screening at the Palace Barracks Cinemas on Sunday 22 July at 2.30pm.

Some of our new onboarders will be joining us for their first performance, and our quartets, Sparkling Blends and Kit‘n’Kaboodle will also be singing. More information is available via our event page, and tickets are available now!

Sweet Adelines Australia Convention and Competition 2018

Brisbane City Sounds is proud to have successfully competed in the Sweet Adelines Australia Convention and Competition in Hobart on 19 May. In a field of 23 choruses, BCS placed 13th – improving our previous score by 18 points (from 518 to 536) and moving up a grade. Led for the first time by Musical Director Kelly Shepard, BCS presented Love Letters as the ballad, and Peter Allen's When I Get My Name in Lights as the uptune. The audience responded particularly well to our uptune, especially the staged lighting effect at the climax of the song.

Hobart hosted a wonderful convention at the Wrest Point Casino, despite some areas of the complex being inoperative as a result of flooding the previous week. The afterglow on Saturday night after the chorus competition, themed for the royal wedding, was well attended by many wearing fabulous royal costumes and tiaras. Our chorus was fortunate to be chosen for coaching during the Sunday morning workshop, and gained some valuable pointers from the judges.

Other highlights of the weekend included joining with 900+ voices in the mass sing, watching the quartet competition, and socialising with BCS members and members of choruses from all over Australia.

In addition to Kelly, five of our members – Olivia, Suzi, Anne, Edit and Courtney – experienced the weird and wonderful world of a Sweet Adelines convention for the first time! Let's hope they are hooked like the rest of us are!

Thanks go to Kelly and our leadership team members, who worked extremely hard in the lead-up to convention. And well done to the BCS marketing team, which was presented with an ‘Outstanding’ in the Marketing Awards, for our Membership Drive and Community Outreach.

Finally, a huge thanks to everyone who sent us well-wishes, cheered us on via the webcast, and helped us on our journey. We really appreciate all the support!

Calling All Singers! 

The next chance to sing with Brisbane City Sounds will be on Thursday 14 June from 7pm – spread the word to any women you know who love to sing!  No preparation for the audition is required, and music theory knowledge is not essential. 

We invite interested singers to join us for our evening rehearsal, and meet with a BCS music team member to demonstrate their musical abilities in a non-threatening environment. Successful auditionees will join us for further rehearsals and enter our new-look onboarding program a little later in the year.

Interested women can contact us if they need further information, or RSVP to our Facebook event to receive additional updates on the audition night.  However, RSVPs are not required - you may simply show up on the night and have a go!  

BCS Struts the Stage at SunPAC!

BCS Prepares for Contest and Celebrates Members

With the Sweet Adelines Australia Convention in Hobart drawing closer, BCS members came together for a weekend retreat on 21 and 22 April to focus our concentration on our contest songs. Not only did we make great progress on our performance set, but we also used this special time together to strengthen our bonds with each other by working, eating and playing together.

Instead of holding our retreat away, as we have done in the past, we worked in our regular rehearsal space, and celebrated on Saturday night with a delicious dinner cooked for us on site. Delicious antipasto, pizzas and gelato, together with a few drinks and some giant games such as connect four and jenga, made for a celebratory evening. Our sessions on both days, led by Director Kelly Shepard and visual team members Liliana Macarone and Jess Harriden, provided plenty of variety and opportunities for improvement.

During the retreat, the award of Sweet Adeline of the Year was presented to Jess Harriden, who has done an amazing job of preparing and coaching us in the visual aspects of our performances. Jess’s photo and testimonial will be displayed in Hobart along with award recipients from other choruses throughout Australia.

This will be the first Sweet Adelines convention for five of our members who have joined us since our last convention in Wollongong in 2016. Courtney, Edit, Olivia, Suzi and Anne – we wish you all a joyous convention experience!  

Our recent preparations will stand us in good stead for our first “dress rehearsal” performance at the Barbershop Harmony Australia Sunshine Region Convention on Saturday 28 April. This is the regional competition of the local men’s barbershop organisation; however, women’s choruses are able to compete in the invitational category. This will give us valuable large-venue experience ahead of the Hobart convention.  

If you would like to see BCS performing at our best, please join us for our Family and Friends Concert on Thursday 10 May at 8:30pm at Lavalla Centre, 58 Fernberg Road, Paddington. We will present our convention package in full costume, and you are invited to join us for light refreshment afterwards. No need to book – just turn up for this free event.

Convention first-timers Suzi, Anne, Olivia, Edit and Courtney

Enjoying a delicious feed by Pizzantica after our hard work at retreat.

Feature image: Sweet Adeline of the Year 2018 - Jess Harriden.

Fashion Parade Fun

BCS’s vocal education program (VEP) participants celebrated their achievements in fine style on Sunday 4 March with a fashion parade, afternoon tea and a performance in front of family and friends. Thirty women completed the four-week program, which covered the basics of barbershop singing while learning a new song together with current BCS members. We are grateful to have received support for this program from the Lord Mayor's Suburban Initiative Fund. 

Sunday’s event saw over 80 people pack into the hall at Lavalla Centre to enjoy a glass of champagne and watch a short concert by BCS – a valuable opportunity to perform our contest set in front of an appreciative audience in preparation for the national Sweet Adelines contest in Hobart in May. The VEP women joined us on the risers to sing Beyond the Sea. The concert was followed by a parade of fashions from Portofino expertly modelled by volunteers from the chorus, and a lavish afternoon tea.BCS joined by our VEP participants

BCS is always on the lookout for excellent singers to join us, and the standard of VEP singers this year was very high. We are delighted that a number of participants are planning to audition for the chorus after experiencing a taste of BCS over the last four weeks.

Sing with Brisbane City Sounds in 2018!

BCS Appoints New Musical Director, Kelly Shepard 

Kelly has sung professionally for 25 years, and is well known to many in the barbershop world. He has recently relocated with his family to Australia from the USA, where he performed with the award-winning Barbershop Harmony Society chorus, Masters of Harmony, as well as five-time international bronze medallist quartet, Metropolis. Kelly previously directed Pacific Sound Chorus in California, a cappella group Kol Echad, and the Los Angeles chapter of HaZamir (an international Jewish youth choir).

“I was proud to direct BCS in our first show together,” says Kelly. “They sang beautifully and were a true pleasure to lead. It was great to see all their hard work to pull it all together.”

Kelly with carollers at the Stones Corner Twilight Markets

An A Cappella Christmas followed on from carolling last weekend (at the Christmas in the Creek event at Albany Creek, and at the Stones Corner Twilight Markets), and showcased our Christmas repertoire, our small groups and quartets, a very entertaining ukulele trio, and even a couple of mischievous elves!

If you missed it you still have a chance to catch us at out and about, at St Gerald Majella Church, Chermside West, at 7.30pm Wednesday 20 December, and at Southbank River Quay Green from 6pm Thursday 21 December.

The Year is Flying By...

Soon it will be the festive season, and Brisbane City Sounds is looking forward to presenting our annual Christmas concert, ‘An A Cappella Christmas’ on Friday 8th December at 7pm in Sacred Heart Church, Paddington.

“An A Cappella Christmas is always a fun show for the whole family,” says Team Coordinator, Julie Edwards. “This year the timing is perfect, because the Paddington Christmas Fair will be held the same day, from 4pm. There will be entertainment including face painting, an animal farm, and Christmas workshops. Sacred Heart Church is only a short walk from the fair, and our concert is a perfect way to finish off the day.”

An A Cappella Christmas will feature all your favourite holiday songs, sung in exquisite four-part harmony by our award-winning choir. Quartets and small groups will also feature, and we love it when everyone in the audience sings along!

Brisbane City Sounds is supporting Communify’s ‘The Pantry’ – a program that provides food to local people who are struggling financially. We encourage audience members to bring along non-perishable food items to An A Cappella Christmas, which we will collect and donate to The Pantry. As a thank-you from Brisbane City Sounds, every donor will receive a voucher for a free item from our supper selection! Additional sweet treats and coffee will also be available for purchase at intermission.

Tickets to An A Cappella Christmas are $15/adult, $10/child, and $30/family – book your seat today!

Join Us for an Afternoon Workshop

Brisbane City Sounds will be hosting an afternoon workshop on 12 November for all women who love to sing! Singers with any level of experience are welcome to this event, where we will introduce you to a cappella music, harmonising, and the barbershop artform.

“Singing a cappella is special because you don’t need instruments or a backing track to make beautiful music – all you need is a few friends,” says BCS Team Coordinator, Julie Edwards. “When you push yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new, you feel an enormous sense of achievement.  BCS is a very supportive and welcoming choir, and we love to introduce – or re-introduce – other women to the wonderful world of group singing!”

At the Sing! A Cappella Harmony Workshop, participants will learn ways to improve breath support, add resonance to their sound, blend better with other singers, and much more.

Whether you’re a complete novice, or an accomplished singer who has been missing group singing, we’d love to meet you on 12^th November from midday to 4pm at the Lavalla Centre, 58 Fernberg Rd, Paddington. The registration fee is only $20, which includes group vocal tuition and afternoon tea. Register now, or contact us for more information.

BCS Featured in Donna Dyson Concert

Following our first performance in Brisbane Sings!, Brisbane City Sounds has continued our collaboration with Donna Dyson, 2016 ASA-APRA Songwriter of the Year (title shared with Damien Leith). On 14 October at 8:30pm, Donna will be presenting “Songs from the Vault”, which will showcase some of the remarkable songs from her extensive catalogue.

BCS feels privileged to be performing two beautiful works in the concert – one alongside ARIA award-winning musician Tyrone Noonan. Other soloists and choirs performing in the show include Damien Leith, David Willersdorf, Hillbrook Chorale, Vox, Queensland Show Choir, Kat Bryant, Fran Morris, Tony Dee, Bek Hull, Sophie Banister, and surprise international guests! A highlight of this concert is that audience members will be given a rare insight into the stories behind each of the songs performed.

“This concert is about my music and those I compose for,” says Donna. “I’m so honoured to open the song vault for one night only and raise funds for MS”. Join us for this special event at Bille Brown Studio, 78 Montague Rd South Brisbane.

BCS at Brisbane Sings! with David Kidd, performing a song
composed by Donna Dyson and Tyrone Noonan. 
Photo credit:  Queensland Show Choir.

Featured photo:  BCS with Donna Dyson (front row, in violet)

BCS Performs in Brisbane Sings! 2017

Brisbane City Sounds was proud to take to the QPAC Concert Hall stage on 6 August 2017, as part of Brisbane Sings! This event brought together choirs from all over Brisbane and surrounds, forming a 500-strong massed choir.  As part of the massed choir, we had fun presenting a varied repertoire from artists such as Billy Joel  and Ricky Martin.

Soloist David Kidd performs with BCS.
Photo credit: Queensland Show Choir

In addition to the massed choir performance, we were excited to premiere a new song by singer-songwriter Tyrone Noonan and 2016 APRA ASA Australian Songwriter of the Year, Donna Dyson.  We performed “Music is for All” alongside soloist David Kidd, past member of the Ten Tenors and current member of Tenori.

BCS was also chosen to present a song from our own repertoire, “Warrior”, which is a moving piece reflecting the strength we have as women.  We would like to thank guest director Jill Harris for working with us on this piece and leading us on stage.

BCS with Guest Director Jill Harris, performing "Warrior".  Photo credit: Queensland Show Choir

It was an honour to work with the inspiring Donna Dyson on this project, and we look forward to the opportunities that our new friendship with Donna may bring.  Watch this space!

See more photos of Brisbane Sings!

QPAC Performance Opportunity Calls

Brisbane City Sounds Chorus will take to the QPAC Concert Hall stage on Sunday 6 August, having proudly been chosen to perform an original song with David Kidd – past member of the Ten Tenors, and current member of Tenori.  BCS will also has the honour of performing one of our own songs, as well as the opportunity of joining other Brisbane groups to form a combined choir of 500 voices as part of Brisbane Sings!

BCS was selected to perform with David Kidd after Donna Dyson, 2016 APRA ASA Australian Songwriter of the Year, attended one of the chorus’s weekly rehearsals.

“I adore discovering new (to my radar) choirs who skulk away in community and school halls singing their hearts out and soaring to exceptional levels,” enthused Donna. “Brisbane City Sounds you are my jewel find of 2017! I adore composing for you! Welcome to Brisbane Sings 2017!”

BCS members are very excited about this amazing opportunity!

Tickets for Brisbane Sings! are now available at QPAC.

Photo:  BCS was joined at rehearsal by three members of the Brisbane Sings! team: Musical Director Craig Allister Young (centre right), Producer and Soloist David Kidd (centre left), and Composer in Residence Donna Dyson (centre).

BCS Welcomes Six New Members

These new members first joined us via our annual Vocal Education Program, after which they passed an audition and became prospective members. They then completed a 3-month onboarding period, during which they learnt several new songs and gained an understanding of chorus expectations .

BCS have been running an onboarding program for several years now, and have found that this period of time before full membership is beneficial for our new singers to find out if BCS is the choir for them.  During the onboarding period, new singers attend vocal production classes during rehearsal, and are offered individual instruction on vocal technique and physical movement / showmanship skills.  It’s also an opportunity for our onboarders to get to know us and experience the culture of BCS before completely committing to membership.

BCS entertaining at Rose Cafe

Our new members have recently had the opportunity to sing with BCS at “Christmas in July” at the Rose Café, Bayside Uniting Church Manly, where we performed some much-loved Christmas carols as well as other repertoire.  Rose Café is an initiative for women run by volunteers from the church; it is a similar concept to the Men’s Shed movement, providing a place for women to meet and engage with other women.  BCS were honored to be invited to sing, and had a lovely time entertaining the crowd.

New member Courtney busy cooking up a storm with Suzi and Marnie

Another introduction to BCS culture for our new members was taking part in the running of a sausage sizzle at Bunnings Stafford.  There  is stiff competition for sausage sizzle dates at this busy store, so we were very lucky to secure a fundraiser at the end of the school holidays.  Thanks to the efforts of our members and their families, this sausage sizzle was both a great revenue raiser and a fun event!

Brisbane City Sounds has more exciting performances in the near future.  Keep an eye of the website and our Facebook page for further information coming soon!

Featured photo:  New members Anne, Helen, Sheila and Krutika.

Movie Afternoon 

The occasion also marked the first official performance of some of our newest singers. Helen, Janeen, Krutika, Courtney, Cass, Bernadette, Anne and Sheila initially joined us for our vocal education program back in February and enjoyed themselves so much that they wanted to stay. Following successful auditions, these eight new singers continue on their journey towards full membership by means of an “onboarding” period, designed to help them get a feel for what being part of our choir really means. The fresh enthusiasm and talent brought by new members is always very welcome and we look forward to performing more beautiful songs with them in the coming months.

BCS hosts movie events like this a few times per year, and it is always a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Keep an eye on the website or follow our Facebook page to find out details of our next events!

Vocal Education Program Showcase Concert

During the annual Vocal Education Program, participants learn some of the foundations of good singing, including breath control, vowels, dynamics and showmanship. This year, our guest singers experienced harmonising in both contemporary a cappella and four-part barbershop arrangements. A highlight of the program is that it gives participants the opportunity to experience being part of a performing choir. This year, our guests joined us at the Showcase Concert to perform two songs for family and friends – a wonderful achievement

The members of Brisbane City Sounds always enjoy the Vocal Education Program, as we are able to meet like-minded women from the wider community and introduce them to barbershop harmony. Around one-third of the 2017 program participants are now planning to audition, and we look forward to welcoming them into our choir family more permanently.

Following this year’s successful Vocal Education Program and Showcase Concert, Brisbane City Sounds would like to make special mention of our music team. These talented women have led us at rehearsals over the past few months, and acted as interim directors at our Showcase Concert.  We are proud to have so many members with such strong musical knowledge and leadership skill, as well as the willingness to contribute their time. We look forward to what the future of Brisbane City Sounds holds!

Brisbane City Sounds performing our favourite songs

Sparkling Blends Quartet

Music Team Member Glen leads us in “Heard it Through the Grapevine”

Featured photo: BCS joined by our Vocal Education Program Participants, directed by Guest Musical Director Jacqueline.

You're Invited!

Join Brisbane City Sounds and some special guests at our 2017 Showcase Concert – a short program of music, followed by afternoon tea.

Throughout February we have welcomed more than 30 women to our annual Vocal Education Program, where they have worked on their vocal production skills and learnt two a cappella pieces. 

Come along to hear the results of their efforts, and also enjoy performances by Brisbane City Sounds and Sparkling Blends quartet.

Date:  Saturday 25 February 2017

Venue:  Lavalla Centre, 58 Fernberg Rd, Paddington

When:  Concert at 2.30pm, afternoon tea from 3pm

Tickets:  $10 per person, available at the door

We look forward to seeing you there!

Experience the Joy of A Cappella Harmony Singing

Brisbane City Sounds is running a vocal education program in February 2017 to introduce new singers to singing a cappella, barbershop style.

Interested women can come and join us over four rehearsal nights, learn two songs with us, then have the chance to perform with the chorus at our Vocal Program Showcase, planned for Saturday 25 February.

We welcome women of all levels of singing experience, and can place you in a voice part to suit your vocal range.

This is a great way to see how we operate, do something different, learn something and have fun!

Dates:

Cost:

A non-refundable $60 covers the program’s tuition, and music copyright fees.

We will be holding auditions for the chorus after completion of the program, which will then run into an onboarding program to provide further education and support. This will be the only new member intake for 2017, so book your ticket now!

BCS Christmas Concert

On 9 December, Brisbane City Sounds was proud to host our own Christmas concert, 'An A Cappella Christmas'. 

The show was presented in the beautiful Sacred Heart Church in Paddington, and featured the chorus, several of our quartets and special guests The River City Clippers.  A selection of Santa’s most mischievous elves also made an appearance! 

If you missed your chance to hear our carols, you still have one more chance.  Brisbane City Sounds will be performing at St Gerard Majella Church in Chermside West on Wednesday 21 December from 7.30pm.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our families and friends who have supported us throughout the year.  We are always extremely grateful for helping us at events, coming to our shows, and supporting us in all our endeavours. 

Merry Christmas!

Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea

Brisbane City Sounds were pleased to present our annual Portofino fashion parade on 12 November.

Our guests enjoyed great company, a lavish afternoon tea, some top modelling and a few songs performed by the chorus.

Following the fashion parade there was a shopping opportunity, and most of us took home a bargain or two!

Thanks to all our friends and family who came along to spend an afternoon with us, and to the organising committee for putting together such a fun event.

BCS Farewells Musical Director 

On 22 October, Brisbane City Sounds presented ‘Sauce on the Side: Reminiscing’.  This show featured small groups, soloists, dancers and our full chorus of 35 women, and showcased some of our favourite songs from the past few years, including musical theatre hits, pop songs, ballads and Australian classics.

This  was a special show for Brisbane City Sounds as it was our last performance with Musical Director Rose McGee.  Rose has retired after an impressive 24 years of directing many choruses around Australia. In 2011, Rose took over as Musical Director for Brisbane City Sounds, and we haven’t looked back. Over that time we have gone from strength to strength, improving under her direction and winning awards at the national women’s barbershop convention.

Rose has left an incredible legacy with BCS, and we wish her every happiness in her new adventures.

See more photos of our show!

If you missed our show, you still have several other opportunities to see us before Christmas!

Brisbane City Sounds will be hosting a fashion parade on Saturday 12 November at 2.15pm, at the Lavalla Centre, Paddington.  There will be some fantastic clothing items on display, as you partake in a decadent afternoon tea, and of course there will be some singing as well!  Buy your tickets now…

If this leaves you wanting more, we will also be presenting ‘An A Cappella Christmas’, from 6.30pm on Friday 9 December, at Sacred Heart Church, Paddington. Come and hear you favourite Christmas carols sung a cappella  by Brisbane City Sounds, our quartets, and special guests The River City Clippers. Tickets available now!

We are also planning a vocal education program early in 2017, keep your eye out for further details soon.  If you are interested in becoming a member of our chorus, this will be the only opportunity to audition in 2017.   Contact us to find out more!