We invite you to come share with us the joyous spirit of the season at our Christmas Concert! We love singing in the beautiful Sacred Heart Church, Rosalie and it's our pleasure once again to welcome guest performers, both singers and instrumentalists. See you there! for bookings click: here |
If you're interested in female four part a cappella singing and can hold a tune, we may be for you! Why not come along and see!? There is no cost or obligation - just a couple of hours on Thursday nights in October. We are a cheerful, friendly group and would love to make you welcome! So we have an idea of numbers, please book (it's free), by clicking on this link: Sing in Spring. |
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon with our High Tea, fashions by Portofino, a cappella singing, raffles & shopping opportunities! Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CTAEB |
Open the door to new opportunity! Singing is good for you, and harmony singing even better! Can you help us grow our sound? Ladies, if you can sing in tune and are interested in a cappella, that is, unaccompanied, singing, we'd love to welcome you to our practice nights in June! Please book here, so we know numbers : https://www.trybooking.com/CRSSP |
All mothers and others are invited to All Saints Anglican Church at Chermside for the annual Mother's Day Morning Tea! And we will sing!! |
Brisbane City Sounds looks forward to competing in the Sweet Adelines Australia National Convention & Competition in sunny Fremantle, W. A. on the 18th May! We'd love you to come to our half hour, free, dress rehearsal! |
Our Sweet Adeline of the Year 2024 is a well deserved Veronica Askerow! Veronica has given so much of her time over many years to the chorus, as Team Coordinator, Baritone Section Leader, Assistant Conductor, quartet member and most recently, Treasurer, among many other roles. We are very grateful for your enormous contribution, Ron! |
Thanks to Trish Keefer's meticulous organisationand and the cheerful work of all her helpers, we enjoyed a successful day! |
Our own Assistant Team Coordinator, Annie Freeman, received a badge of thanks from the Australian region recognising her four and a half years as the Regional Treasurer, an exacting and time consuming task! |
We are delighted to welcome Claire Lever to our risers, as our newest baritone! |
All the way from the far side of Australia, to coach choruses, quartets & singers in the East! We were very fortunate to learn lots from Bec Hewitt at an excellent weekly practice last night! |
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Paddington's wonderful hospitality, we all enjoyed their annual citizenship ceremony at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens and sang our hearts out about how great it is to be Australian! |
If you enjoy singing in close harmony, perhaps we are for you!
Touch your phone below to call Kim! |
Our Christmas Concert in the beautiful Sacred Heart Church was a joy once again! Thanks to Mr & Mrs Santa and our guest choir, Cardinale, from All Saints Anglican Church, Chermside, and to Ros Kaye, their talented musician, as well as lots of cheerful chorus cooks and helpers, not to mention an appreciative audience, we had a wonderful end of year concert! |
Many thanks to the champion teams of workers at Sunday's Bunnings sausage sizzle!! Special thanks to Trish Keefer, who not only organised the day, but braved the cooking on such a hot & humid day!! Thank you, Ladies!! |
We'd Love to Welcome You to our 2023 Christmas Concert in the lovely Sacred Heart Church, Paddington! Come along and enjoy a variety of singing styles - from female barbershop chorus & quartets to sacred Christmas pieces by a guest ensemble & our own operatic soloist - with, of course, a brief festive carol singalong! Bookings: click here For enquiries : call Kim on 0432 152 247 or email: Kim at kimish36@gmail.com |
Join us on the 28th for an exciting concert, in support of women living with cancer! No less than four women's a cappella choruses will entertain you!! Bookings: www.redlandrhapsody.org.au |
Spring is a time to try something new! Come along and sing with us! For more details, call our friendly welcomer, Veronica, on 0408 161 329! |
In Sweet Adelines tradition, the International Champion Quartet members of each year receive crowns, and are, for ever after, referred to as Queens of Harmony. So, royalty ... Stephanie Worland ... the bass from champion Love Notes Quartet, visited us on our Thursday night practice, and shared some of her skills in making sweet harmony! We're all grateful! Thanks Steph!! |
Join us in August! Making harmonies is so much fun! |
If you love harmony singing, come visit us in July! We are an auditioned chorus, but visiting involves no cost and no commitment!
We'd love to make you welcome! |
We are women who love to sing in four part harmony! Unaccompanied! You are very welcome to come and see what we do! Perhaps it's for you! |
On Saturday, 6th May, Brisbane City Sounds performed on the Plaza Ballroom Stage at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. For many of us this was a first time experience, but everything went smoothly and it was a great buzz to perform for such a large audience. 800 women cheering is very uplifting! |
Brisbane's South Bank will be invaded this weekend from Friday to Sunday by hundreds of Sweet Adelines from around Australia! More details, including a link to the Live Streaming of the chorus and quartet competitions, can be found: here - the Sweet Adelines Australia website. |
If you'd like to watch us perform and perhaps just some, or even all, of the 22 other choruses as they sing their 7 minutes of glory on the Ballroom Stage of the Brisbane Convention Centre on the 6th May, tickets are available!! Bookings: www.trybooking.com/CHJLP (We're number 18; we should be on stage in the early to mid afternoon.) |
Our late summer weather made the cooks sizzle too! But thanks to Kim and her cheery team, it was a great day! |
Thanks to our Director Vikram, coach Kelly Shepard, and the BCS Team, our week-end At Home Retreat was "The Best Yet"! 🤩🥳 |
Our First Performance of 2023 was a happy day for all at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Annual Rotary Citizenship Ceremony! |
What fun! Two weeks of caroling in venues around Brisbane! |
To Celebrate our Vocal Education Participants and start our Christmas Season, We held a Christmas Soiree! |
It was lovely to catch up with old friends in a beautiful venue, the All Saints Anglican Church, Brisbane on Saturday, 15 October! Two quartets sang, we sang, our director, Vikram, sang, and then we celebrated! We congratulated Cecelia on her 20 yrs with BCS, Bonnie for her amazing flowers made from drink cans, Fiona on cutting the cake, and then we ate it! |
If you love to sing, then you'll enjoy our Christmas workshops coming soon! Book your spot now!
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CDVSR
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Brisbane City Sounds is pleased and proud to invite you to our 20th Anniversary Concert in the historic All Saints Church, Brisbane! Tickets can be purchased here. |
We are in rehearsal, the caterers are contacted, the guest artists invited! Now all we need is You! Please keep the 15th October, 3pm at All Saints Anglican Church free on your calendar so you can come help us celebrate! More details will follow soon. |
Wouldn't you enjoy an afternoon of song and cinema?!
Our Vocal Education participants, with BCS, will sing to you, with your glass of complimentary bubbles, in the Barracks foyer, before we all go in to watch the romantic comedy, "Falling for Figaro"! Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CBFST |
Who steals the show every night by just rolling on the floor? It's Bardon, the Border Collie, who tags along with Vikram!! But who keeps the wheels turning, so we can all go on singing? Few can match the contribution of Cecelia Connors, founding member and now a 20 year member of our international organisation of Sweet Adelines!! And Bonnie Boon, the 2022 BCS Sweet Adeline of the Year!! Congratulations Ladies!! |
Come along and enjoy making sweet harmonies with a fun loving group of women! Five Thursday nights, with a Sunday afternoon performance and movie to watch! for Bookings, click here |
Excited anticipation! In the Green Room before our first venture on stage with our new director, Vikram Goonawardena! |
Led by our new Director, Vikram G., we sang up the CO2 with guest coach, Bec Hewitt! |
Are you interested in applying for the position of: Musical Director of Brisbane City Sounds Women’s Barbershop Chorus? Brisbane City Sounds (BCS) is an auditioned, all-women a cappella competing chorus based in Paddington, Brisbane. We mainly sing in the barbershop style and have a large and varied repertoire. We love entertaining and we perform regularly at local events and shows. We are a highly motivated, disciplined and unified group of women of all ages, and we have great fun together. We compete nationally approximately every 2 years. BCS is a not-for-profit organisation with a strong leadership team and established processes and the chorus performs to a high standard of professionalism. We have grown from a small community chorus in 2002 to a paid performing chorus of 30 singers. Applications are now open for our next energetic experienced director. We are seeking someone with strong musical, auditory and singing skills, who can encourage us to continually improve, help us provide excellent entertainment for audiences, and join us in experiencing the joy of singing at our best. Our preference is for someone with previous barbershop experience in a cappella directing; however, we welcome all applicants to contact us to discuss the position. Importantly, we are looking for strong teaching skills and the ability to motivate volunteer performers while maintaining the culture of fun that currently exists. In return, we offer monthly remuneration, a percentage of paid performances, and the opportunity to further your musical education. For further details, please contact Sheryl de Bruyn via phone on 0498 004 415 or email sheryldebruyn@gmail.com. To apply please download the attached form here and return the completed form to Sheryl de Bruyn at the above email address. |
Come join us!! - for a relaxing afternoon of wine, women, song and "Death on the Nile"! Click here for bookings . |
It was wonderful to begin 2022 with Australian songs at a moving citizenship ceremony at the Botanic Gardens, My Coot-tha, Brisbane, thanks to Rotary, Paddington! |
For Christmas 2021 we sang, we smiled and we made sweet harmonies! Our annual concert in the Sacred Heart Church Paddington featured three wonderful quartets, two of which were new! We also enjoyed carol singing for 175 Eagle St, Cross River Rail and Bunnings. Only our last performance, at Bunnings, after the state borders were opened, required masks! |
We'd love to welcome you to our End of Year Christmas Concert in the beautiful Sacred Heart Church, Paddington! For Bookings: click here |
On Sunday morning, 28th August, we met in Dorrington Park for a social catch-up. We enjoyed lovely weather, lovely singing and the company of some lovely friends. |
Once more, led by the indomitable Kim, with workers in shifts of five at a time, we sold sausages on bread, with free onions and sauce!
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Our Fashion Show 2021 was a great success!
"Sing some more!" and "When is the next one?" commented the audience who enjoyed the afternoon immensely and so did we! |
What a great way to spend an afternoon! A glass of wine to start with, some songs by our chorus and the wonderful graduates from our June Vocal Education Program, a fashion show, afternoon tea, raffles, and SHOPPING! Click here to book! |
We were delighted to learn some new singing techniques with our visiting Sweet Adelines coach, Linda Wareham! |
All Saints Chermside celebrated an early Mothers Day on Friday, 7th May by hosting a morning tea. Five new members and our new Assistant Director, Annemarie Kirsten, performed for the first time with BCS! We entertained our audience with four of our songs, plus two by our newest quartet, "Short 'n Sweet", Annemarie, Helen, Annie & Margery, (wearing hot red pom poms). |
Sadly, due to recent Covid restrictions,
including mask wearing indoors, we've had to cancel our Fashion Show of Sat 10th April. 😌 We're hoping now for a date in June!
Stay tuned! 😊
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You are warmly invited to join us for a series of four Thursday evening workshops with our expert musical director, Courtney Truce, at the Lavalla Centre, 58 Fernberg Rd, Paddington. Learn vocal production, breathing techniques and the fine art of singing a cappella harmony in a women's chorus, and having fun! We will work towards a movie afternoon performance at the Barracks Cinemas on Sunday 7th March, the day before International Women's Day. The workshops begin on Thursday Feb 11th, (6.30pm - 8.30pm) and continue on : Thursday Feb 18th & 25th & March 4th. (7pm - 8.30pm) Cost $60 Book tickets here |
Please join us, on Sunday 7th March, as we all go to the Barracks Cinema to enjoy the heart warming movie, "Minari", winner at the 2020 Sundance Movie Festival and Academy Award contender! "Minari" follows a Korean-American family who move to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American dream. Tickets $25 adults $15 children. Includes a glass of sparkling wine and a short performance by the chorus before the movie. Palace Barracks Cinema Sunday, 7th March at 2.15pm Book tickets here |
Brisbane City Sounds is excited to welcome back Courtney Truce as our new director! Covid 19 continues to cramp our style, but not our enjoyment of singing together. With Courtney and loads of enthusiasm we look forward to all the new adventures of 2021! |
Our Christmas party at the Paddo Tavern this year was also a Farewell and a Big Thank You to our outgoing Director, the talented Hayley Marsh. The many happy memories that 2020 brought us all, despite the threat of Covid, were captured in a colourful photobook made for Hayley as our parting gift. Thank you, Hayley, for leading us in barbershop singing, in addition to your four other choirs and your busy school teaching commitments! Thank you for a wonderful year of happy singing! We wish you all the best of good fortune for your future creative endeavours, of which there are sure to be many. |
On Friday 27 November our end of year Christmas Concert was a happy celebration and opportunity for us to sing new repertoire and old. We were able to welcome a full capacity audience as Covid retrictions had been lifted just the week before! Our director, Hayley Marsh, invited along Bardo Voce, her children's choir from Bardon State School, to sing some lovely carols. Thanks to Kim for organising the raffle and Mish for being our lovely M.C. And thank you, Margery, our concert organizer! Happy Christmas Everyone, and may the New Year of 2021 be brighter for all! |
Our End of Year Christmas Concert At last! Queensland attendance restrictions have been eased further! Hopefully things will remain that way until Friday night, the 27th November, when we have our Christmas Concert. Come along and have some fun, enjoy great harmonies and sing along with some well known carols, in the beautiful Sacred Heart Church, Paddington! (Though it might be wise to bring a facemask for entry and departure only.) |
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.
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For more information, see: | https://www.brisbanecitysounds.com.au/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=events&id=121789 |
Our annual retreat with this year’s guest coach, Kate Schirmer, and our musical director, Hayley Marsh, was a happy, vocally educational success! We stayed for two nights at Maroochy Waterfront Camping and Convention Centre on the Sunshine Coast. Some of our activities included:
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"Dressed in Green and Gold"The Rotary Club of Paddington once again invited Brisbane City Sounds to sing at their Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony at the Mt Coot-tha Planetarium on 26 January.We were honoured to share in such a special day, and happily sang a selection of our favourite Aussie tunes, including Eric Bogle's "Shelter" and the famous "I am Australian". We congratulate all those who became Australian citizens on that day! |
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 |
It was a busy month in August for Brisbane City Sounds. A group of BCS members attended August A Cappella, one of the wonderful learning opportunities provided by Sweet Adelines Australia. This year, we were coached by Master Directors Glenda Lloyd (Brindabella) and Jo Oosterhoff (A Cappella West), focusing on resonance, artistry and lyrical delivery. Chorus members from all over south-east Queensland travelled to Brisbane for this event. It was amazing to hear the improvement in the massed sound of the participants by the end of the weekend. Our next education opportunity was our annual retreat, which was held in-house over one weekend in August, and attended by Lea Baker, Master Director of Endeavour Harmony and a long-time friend of BCS. Lea offered members private coaching on Friday, and a full day of coaching for the whole chorus on Saturday. BCS members and friends joined Lea for a dinner at the Paddo Tavern, and yes – we did sing just a bit! Sunday was devoted to section practices – leads with tenors, and baris with basses. Thanks to Lea for passing on new approaches and inspiration for our future. |
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. |
BCS and Special Guests Celebrate International Women’s DayBCS 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. |
Brisbane City Sounds' Vocal Education Program 2019If 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! |
An A Cappella ChristmasA 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. |
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. |
An A Cappella ChristmasAs the festive season approaches, it’s time to mark Brisbane City Sounds’ annual Christmas concert in your calendar.‘An A Cappella Christmas’ will be held on Friday 30 November from 6:30pm in Sacred Heart Church, Paddington. Under Kelly Shepard’s direction, BCS will be performing old favorites as well as some beautiful new and more contemporary seasonal music. The music will be intertwined with recollections and anecdotes about Christmas. Quartets and small groups will feature alongside BCS’s trademark four-part harmony, and you may just have the opportunity to sing along with us! The show will also feature special guest choir Bardo Voce, from Bardon State School. Refreshments will be available for purchase at intermission from Mana Coffee and our own cake stall. At this year’s concert, we will be collecting donations of cash or items to raise funds for Share the Dignity’s ‘It’s In The Bag’ Christmas appeal. This program that provides handbags filled with personal items for women or girls experiencing homelessness or poverty. Look at the website to check what items you can contribute to this worthy cause. Tickets to An A Cappella Christmas are $15/adult, $10/child, and $30/family – book your seat today! This event is supported by the Lord Mayor's Suburban Initiative Fund and Paddington Ward. |
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. | |
For more information, see: | www.brisbanecitysounds.com.au/hire-us |
Julie Takes Up The BatonNot 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! |
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.
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Successful Movie Afternoon Fundraiser for BCSA great crowd of BCS friends and supporters turned up at Palace Barracks Cinemas on Sunday 22 July to see a mini performance, drink a glass of bubbly, and watch the jukebox musical movie, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Ten years ago, the original Mamma Mia movie was screened at Palace Centro Cinemas for a chorus event, so we were excited to see the sequel!The chorus and quartets sang several songs, including Mamma Mia, to warm appreciation from the audience of more than 90 people. The light-hearted movie featuring the songs of Abba made for an afternoon of great entertainment, with the audience clapping and singing along on a number of occasions! We are grateful as always to our supporters who unfailingly attend our fundraisers – we hope that you also have a great time in the process! |
BCS Entertains Wheller ResidentsA small group of dedicated performers from BCS entertained the residents of Wheller on the Park Retirement Village on Sunday 15 July. Our two quartets – Kit ‘n’ Kaboodle and Sparkling Blends – each sang three songs, and also joined forces to sing another four songs as an octet. BCS’s resident actor/script writer/visual leader Liliana was the day’s MC, and also performed a number of songs of her own, with her trusty ukulele! During Liliana’s set, the audience was invited to sing along to a selection of well-known songs, with some audience members enthusiastically playing maracas, tambourines and castanets. Approximately 60 residents attended the performance, and the feedback they gave was very positive. Many thanks go to the quartets and Liliana for giving up their time to prepare and perform, and to Events Coordinator Suzi for organising the engagement.Liliana entertains the crowd Feature image: Kit 'n' Kaboodle and Sparkling Blends team up |
BCS Joins Brisbane Sings for a Second YearRehearsals 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. Feature image: Brisbane City Sounds performing at Brisbane Sings 2017. Photo credit: Queensland Show Choir |
Mamma Mia! Here We Go AgainGet 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. |
Sweet Adelines Australia Convention and Competition 2018Brisbane 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. Kelly with his new BCS shirt - also showing off his false eye lashes; Leela and Michelle at the royal wedding afterglow. Feature image: Helen, Margery, Ainslie and Anne ready to hit the stage! |
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. |
BCS Struts the Stage at SunPAC!When Brisbane City Sounds was invited to compete in the women’s invitational category of the men’s Barbershop Harmony Australia Sunshine Region Convention on Saturday 28 April, we were keen to participate as a practice run and dress rehearsal before our own Sweet Adelines Australia competition coming up in May in Hobart. Undeterred by the early start, as we were competing at around 9 am at SunPAC at Sunnybank, BCS members arrived in full costume and makeup – including false eyelashes – and performed our two contest songs for an appreciative audience. For some of our members, this was their first chance to sing on a concert stage with the chorus. This not only gave us performance practice on an unfamiliar stage, but also allowed us to perfect the many small details in costuming, makeup, lighting effects, choreography and stagecraft. We also met up with two of our sister choruses and saw them perform. We can’t wait to compete with them on the Hobart stage! If you would like to watch our performance in Hobart, you can tune into the Sweet Adelines Australia convention webcast. Our performance time is 2.30 pm on Saturday 19 May. The webcast is free, but the region would appreciate any donation to help cover the cost. Feature image: Brisbane City Sounds performing at the last Hobart convention in 2015, courtesy of Photomakers |
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. |
BCS Prepares for Contest and Celebrates MembersWith 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 FunBCS’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!Have you always dreamed of singing in an accomplished vocal group? Have you wanted to, but felt you weren't good enough? Would you like a chance to learn about a cappella and barbershop while learning some vocal techniques along the way? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to these questions, we’d love to see you at our 2018 Vocal Education Program!The program will run for four Thursday nights from 8 February until 1 March at the Lavalla Centre in Paddington. Participants will receive group vocal tuition, learn music with the chorus, and have the opportunity to perform with Brisbane City Sounds at our Vocal Program Finale Event on 4 March. ‘As a 25+ year vocal music teacher, I'm so excited to be leading this group of women and to share with them the joy of singing and the excitement and genuine emotions that music can create!’ says Musical Director, Kelly Shepard. Our annual auditions will follow the Vocal Education Program, but the program is designed as a stand-alone series of workshops, and there is no obligation to join our chorus. We welcome anyone to come along for four weeks, learn a bit about our style of singing, and have some fun! Registration is $100, which includes learning materials, group vocal tuition and entry to the Finale Event. Sign up now via: www.trybooking.com/SMDS. Make 2018 the year that you do something for yourself – something you love, which connects you to like-minded women and brings you joy! Key dates/times: Rehearsal 1: Thurs 8 Feb, 6:30-8:30pm Rehearsal 2: Thurs 15 Feb, 7-8:30pm Rehearsal 3: Thurs 22 Feb, 7-8:30pm Rehearsal 4: Thurs 1 Mar, 7-8:30pm Finale event: Sun 4 Mar, afternoon (time TBC) For more information about the program, please contact us via: info@brisbanecitysounds.com.au. |
BCS Appoints New Musical Director, Kelly ShepardKelly has recently completed a trial period with the chorus, which included preparing us for our annual Christmas concert, An A Cappella Christmas, on Friday 8 December.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 WorkshopBrisbane 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 12th 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 ConcertFollowing 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 |
BCS Performs in Brisbane Sings! 2017Brisbane 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. 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 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! |
QPAC Performance Opportunity CallsBrisbane 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. |
BCS Welcomes Six New MembersThese 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! |
Movie AfternoonBrisbane City Sounds recently enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of song and movie entertainment at Palace Barracks Cinema. BCS performed a short repertoire for the assembled crowd before joining them to watch “The Zookeeper’s Wife” on its opening weekend.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 ConcertBCS presented this concert on Saturday 25 February, as a finale to our annual Vocal Education Program. During the afternoon, BCS and special guests Sparkling Blends Quartet entertained the audience with several of our favourite songs. We also welcomed more than 20 participants from our Vocal Education Program to the stage, before capping off the event with afternoon tea.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” |
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. 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 SingingBrisbane 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: Rehearsal 1: Thurs 2nd Feb, 7-9pmRehearsal 2: Thurs 9th Feb, 7-9pm Rehearsal 3: Thurs 16th Feb, 7-9pm Rehearsal 4: Thurs 23rd Feb, 7-9pm Showcase: Sat 25th Feb, afternoon (time to be confirmed) 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 ConcertOn 9 December, Brisbane City Sounds was proud to host our own Christmas concert, 'An A Cappella Christmas'. 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. |
Fashion Parade and Afternoon TeaBrisbane 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 DirectorOn 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. 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! |