Another song with just our higher pitched voices! This great a cappella arrangement catches all the vibes of the original Whitney song and while it was challenging for our members to learn and record virtually, they've done a great job with it! |
For our recent concerts we gave our altos and sopranos the option of doing an extra perfomance challenge by learning and performing a show choir song with full choreo and no director. And boy did we have fun! Here are the combined videos of our Cairns and Brisbane performances, along with some of our Viral Choir members. |
We took a quick break between Brisbane and Cairns performances to learn and record a song in one rehearsal and what a great song it was!! |
On World Smile Day, we thought we'd give you a second chace at smiling today. And who wouldn't smile at a bit of nostalgic Old Blue Eyes? So here's our take on the classic New York New York. |
If I Can Dream was recorded by Elvis just two months after Martin Luther King's assassination and is seen as a direct response to the King's "I have a dream" speech. With Australia about to vote on Indigenous recognition in the constitution, it's a powerful reminder of the vision for a land where 'all my brothers walk hand in hand'. Whatever your politics, the power of this song and the emotions you see on the faces of Martin Luther King, Elvis and all our singers in this video is undeniable. |
This stunning song written by Andrea and Matteo Bocelli featured in The Nutcracker and Four Realms movie and is a stunning reminder that sometimes we all just need to let go and let someone else catch us. This arrangement is by Mac Huff and it was taught in person and online to singers in Australia and beyond by Jacqueline Larsen, who also designed and produced the video. |
This stunning Evanescence song somehow makes you hold your breath and sigh at the same time. It was immediately a choir favourite to sing and we love the stories our singers are telling with this song. It was taught in person and online by Jacqueline Larsen who also designed and produced the video. |
This fantastic Alicia Keys song is so great to sing and has a brilliant message about looking out for the Underdogs. It was taught and recorded in person and online by Jacqueline Larsen who also designed and produced the video. |
Louder Than Words is a powerful call to action, written by Jonathan Larson (best known for writing Rent) and comes from his lesser known musical Tick Tick Boom. This arrangement is by Mac Huff and it was taught in person and online to Soul Song members all over the world by Jacqueline Larsen who also designed and produced the video. |
Even our virtual 'at home' singers are not singing alone in this stunning mash up of You'll Never Walk Alone (from Carousel) and Climb Every Mountain (from The Sound of Music). It's a big song and a big sound that's hard to capture on the screen but we love seeing our members from all over the world standing shoulder to shoulder with each other to sing - our very favourite thing to do!! This arrangement of two Rogers and Hammerstein songs is by Mark Hayes. |
This Andy Grammer song stopped us in our tracks the first time we heard it and we KNEW straight away that we had to sing it!! It's literally a joy to sing with really clever lyrics and some great harmonies by Anita Cracauer, the arranger. It was taught in person and on line by Jacqueline Larsen who also produced the video. |
This powerful song, sung originally by Beyonce in Dreamgirls, is a powerful expression of moving on, finding your own voice and claiming your own space in the world and you'll see some really powerful and moving performances in this video which combines individual singers from around the world and 4 physical choir groups in Brisbane and Cairns. The song was written by Henry Kreiger, Anne Preven, Scott Culter and Beyonce Knowles and was arranged by Mark Brymer. The video was designed and produced by Jacqueline Larsen, founder and director of Soul Song Choirs. |
This fantastic One Republic Song definitely gets the heart pumping! Featuring solos by our two Musical Directors - Sarah Dunn and Jacqueline Larsen, the song is all about being committed enough to keep on with something 'til the love runs out' - very apt for those two! The video includes live footage from our 4 physical choir groups, two live performances and 32 'at home' singers from all over the world - all doing what they love! The song was arranged by Mark Brymer and taught in person and online to Soul Song members. The video was designed and produced by Jacqueline Larsen |
Although this Lady Gaga song was released in 2022 for the Top Gun Maverick soundtrack, it has all the feels of the original 80s Top Gun power ballads so we thought we'd have a bit of fun with the video for this one and brought in some wind and smoke machines, along with some mode lighting and faded denim! The song was written by Stefani Germanotta and Michael Tucker and was arranged by Mac Huff. It was taught by Jacqueline Larsen in person and online, who also designed and produced the video. |
Although made famous in the late 80s by Yazz, this was written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released in 1980 by soul singer Otis Clay. While the worries around the cost of living seem all too relevant for us today, so does the optimistic call to celebrate that the only way is up! This song was arranged and taught in person and online by Jacqueline Larsen who also produced the video. |
This stunning mash up of True Colours by Cyndi Lauper and Brave by Sara Bareilles was created by Mac Huff and is a powerful reminder to be yourself and speak your truth. This video incorporates footage from four live rehearsals and a whole load of singers at home and was taught, designed and produced by Jacqueline Larsen. |
This is a stunning song by The Proclaimers of love and grief and the blessing of having loved and lost. The story is told with passion by members of Soul Song from all over the world and our physical choirs in Brisbane and Cairns. |
What better song could there possibly have been to sing for our 100th Virtual Choir video (yes, 100!!!!!!) than Mama Cass' Make Your Own Kind of Music?! The song, like Soul Song, celebrates the individual and is a brilliant song to just throw your head back and sing with abandon! In this video, you'll see members at home and in our rehearsals in Cairns and Brisbane doing just that, along with a glimpse at our back catalogue of 99 other virtual choir performances and a special tribute to Jaq, Daniel and Anthony, without whom Viral Choir and Soul Song would not have reached this amazing milestone. |
Ed Sheeran is everywhere in Australia right now (February 2023) so it seemed timely to celebrate his music by singing one of his most recent songs - Celestial. Here you can see and hear our 4 physical choirs in action, along with our Viral members from all over the world. |
We love Brisbane band Sheppard and have sung and danced away to a few of their songs over the years, but this is an absolute favourite! A song that celebrates the power of music to free us and how music and love are just inextricably linked. The song was written by Sheppard and arranged for the choir by Jacqueline Larsen, who also designed and produced the video. It features individual performers from all over the world as well as live rehearsal footage from Cairns and three Brisbane choirs. | |
YouTube Video URL: |
We have reinvented this Aussie classic based on Colin Hay's acoustic version and we just love it!! It has a chilled vibe that allows us to celebrate being Australian all over the world! The video features 45 singers from across Australia as well as members from the UK, USA and Singapore and also includes rehearsal footage and audio from our four Queensland choirs in Brisbane and Cairns. The song was written by Colin Hay and Ron Strykert. It was arranged for Soul Song Choirs by director Jacqueline Larsen who also designed and produced the video. If you like what you see and hear, why not come and sing with us? Online from anywhere or in person in Brisbane and Cairns. |
This is a powerful mash up of two songs from two of the most recognised contemporary musicals in recent years - Found from Dear Evan Hansen and Tonight from Hamilton. The song was originally performed as a mash up by Ben Platt (the original Evan Hansen performer) and Lin Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton and this arrangement was produced by Jacob Narverud. It was taught in person and online by Jacqueline Larsen to members of Soul Song choirs all over the world. | |
YouTube Video URL: |
This powerful negro-spiritual style song is from the 2019 movie Harriet, an extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history. We Stand Up as allies that Black Lives Matter and although we recognise that the story and experiences described in this song are not our own, they are important and need to be shared to bring about greater empathy and understanding across all races. The song was written by Joshuah Campbell and Cynthia Erivo who also played Harriet in the movie. It was arranged by Mac Huff and taught to singers all over the world online and in person by Jacqueline Larsen, Soul Song Choirs. Anyone is welcome to join Soul Song where we sing for fun, for change and like our lives depended on it! www.soulsongchoirs.com.au | |
YouTube Video URL: |
This is a gorgeous Patty Griffen song inspired by the words of Martin Luther King, from a speech given just the day before he was killed. It reminds us of the burden of remaining committed and focused to a task or a faith but also of the reward and beauty that lies in the process. The song was arranged by Mac Huff and taught in person and online by Jacqueline Larsen to members of Soul Song choirs all over the world. | |
YouTube Video URL: |
It's great to know that we have all have someone that's just one call away when we need them and this song is a great reminder about the super power of friendship. Why not share it with someone that you think could do with a reminder that you're there for them when they need someone? This Charlie Puth song was arranged by Mac Huff and taught via virtual and physical rehearsals to Soul Song singers all across the world by Jacqueline Larsen who also produced the video. If you want to sing with the choir that joy built, find out more at www.soulsongchoirs.com.au | |
YouTube Video URL: |
"You live, you learn, you love, you learn, you cry learn, you lose, you learn." (Alanis Morissette). We love the sentiment behind our first virtual choir video for 2021 and the idea that what ever happens in life - the good and the bad - can be used as lessons to learn from and shape the rest of your life. Plus it's a fantastic song to let rip and belt out! This fantastic Alanis Morissette song was an anthem of the early 90s and has recently been revived as part of Jagged Little Pill the Musical which is the version that this arrangement by Mark Brymer is based. We love the raw feeling in this song and the message about learning from life - whatever comes your way or whatever paths you choose. oul Song Choirs is a group of choirs in Cairns, Brisbane and online and the singers in this video are based all over Australia as well as in Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Scotland, England and the US. We come together each week in person and online to sing just for the joy of it! The song was written by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard and arranged by Mark Brymer. It was taught in person and online by Jacqueline Larsen who also produced the video. If you want to be part of our next video and part of a worldwide singing community that laughs, cries, screams and lives together, check us out at www.soulsongchoirs.com.au/join-us | |
YouTube Video URL: |
![]() For a group of enthusiastic singers in Brisbane and Cairns, viral is no longer a dirty word! Where 2019 was the year of singing in the pub, thanks to Coronavirus, 2020 is shaping up to be the year of singing in your lounge room. But singing on your own is no way near as much fun as doing it with others, so the newly launched Viral Choir is taking rehearsals right into people’s homes. The choir is part of Soul Song Choirs, a community choir framework that’s have been changing lives through song for 10 years, with choirs in Brisbane and Cairns. Their music is pop, soul and gospel and their motto is ‘Choir, but not as you know it.’ Soul Song founder and director, Jacqueline Larsen, noticed with great concern that already members of her current choirs were beginning to withdraw from rehearsals in order to protect their own health or the health of immediate family members and decided to take action. “We are currently facing unprecedented situation that will challenge everything we know about community. While I 100% support the notion of social distancing, I am also desperately worried that for many people, this could lead to social isolation. “I wanted to be able to offer a way for my members to continue to engage with the choir, even if they couldn’t attend rehearsals or if we have to suspend rehearsals for a while. And then I thought, ‘well, what about everyone else?’ and decided to open it up to anyone.” The Viral Choir is an online, virtual choir open to anyone regardless of age, musical ability and experience. Starting with a four week project, they will teach members two pop songs in four part harmony through a mix of live streamed rehearsals and webcast sectionals where people can focus on just their part. Members will get to network online and have lots of interaction with the director and other members and, at the culmination of the project, participants will be invited to upload a video of them singing along to be published online as one final virtual choir. Then, once the all-clear is given again for large gatherings, they are going to have the mother of all mass sings!!! It will be the most joyful sing along people have ever been a part of. Jacqueline continued, “Scientists have proven many times over that the benefits of group singing on your physical and mental health are significant and as a choir director, I get to witness a wonderful transformation in people time and time again. “Singing together is also one of the most powerful activities people can do to form deep connections with those around them. My job is less about forming choirs and more about building communities. I build tribes that are united by song and I’ll be doing everything I can to make this virtual choir feel as real as possible for all involved.” The viral choir is currently taking expressions of interest ahead of their official program launch in the next week.
Want more information?
| |||
Attachment: |
|
||
For more information, see: | soulsongchoirs.com.au/viralchoir |
A big shout out to the West End Magazine in Brisbane for helping us to spread our voices even wider! Check out the full article here. |
Life in tropical Cairns has thrown a curved ball again and unfortunately the Cairns Soulsters won't be performing on New Year's Eve now. The choir were set to perform at the Cairns Regional Council New Year's Eve event at Fogarty Park but this been cancelled due to excessive amounts of recent rainfall, with more forecast. A cyclone is also hovering around making predictions unpredictable (!). While Council will still stage the Fireworks and possibly a smaller indoor event for kids, all live entertainment has been cancelled. While we're disappointed not to be closing off the year with a performance, Soul Song Choirs wishes everyone a Happy New Year wherever you are! |
![]() Soul Song founder and director is launching a special 6 week Christmas pop-up choir in Brisbane, starting on 7 November, Those who love Christmas and singing Christmas songs are invited to join this fun and funky group to learn a few Christmas favourites and some brand new Christmas songs over a period of 6 weeks. The rehearsals will culminate in four performances at community events across Brisbane. |