A new choir is taking shape in Logan, with about 20 singers already turning up each week to be part of the newly launched Performance Studios Choir.
The group began at the start of February and meets every Thursday night.
Founder, creative director and chief executive officer of Loganholme’s Performance Studios Lisa Lockland-Bell said the idea grew from community demand.
“It was really through inquiry,” Ms Lockland-Bell said. “We had a few people saying, ‘Do you have a choir?’ And some leaders in the city suggested that it might be good to have a choir that is representative of Logan.”
Rather than introducing auditions, Ms Lockland-Bell made a deliberate decision to keep the doors open.
“We decided not to go down that path,” she said. “I think it’s very isolating, and it’s not diverse or inclusive.
“We really want it to be an environment everyone can participate in.”
The choir is designed to suit a mix of vocal abilities, from beginners to experienced performers.
“If you’ve had no experience, that’s completely fine,” Ms Lockland-Bell said.
“It’s really inspiring to be in a group of people that can actually sing in tune and be guided by someone who is a singer themselves and can help you get the best out of your voice.”
Rehearsals begin with a social check-in before moving into warm-ups and repertoire.
The group is currently working on two-part harmonies and a mix of contemporary and “flip” songs, upbeat tracks reworked into slower arrangements.
Ms Lockland-Bell said the social and mental health benefits were just as important as the music.
“We’re living in an environment that is quite isolating,” she said. “It’s proven that music has a benefit for helping people’s mental health.
Being part of a group where they can feel safe, not judged, and just be themselves is really important.”
Organisers hope to grow the choir to about 50 members, with public performances planned later in the year.
