We can be heroes, just from the couch

An image of Pub Choir founder and UQ graduate Astrid Jorgensen on stage conducting a packed crowd.

Pub Choir goes digital to keep community in harmony

Anyone who has attended Pub Choir knows that regardless of your singing prowess, there is something truly special about coming together with others to sing. And while we can’t gather in pubs at the moment, our need to sing and be connected has never been greater.


They wanted to share the joy of choir with the masses.

The easiest way to do that?

Just add beer.

And so, the concept of Pub Choir was born.

“Music is a really great unifier. It's such an easy, primal way to connect with each other and it’s something that we as humans have always done,” UQ alumnus and Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen (Bachelor of Arts ’09, Graduate Diploma in Education ’10) said.

Since its first event in Brisbane in 2017, Pub Choir has gained momentum – not just locally, but across the country and around the world.

Earlier this year, the team were in the US to attend the prestigious music festival South by Southwest (SXSW) in Texas, and to present Pub Choir events across the country, when the Australian Government changed its advice regarding overseas travel amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

An image of UQ graduate and Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen in San Francisco, standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

UQ graduate and Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen in San Francisco.

UQ graduate and Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen in San Francisco.

Jorgensen said by the time the team reached San Francisco, it became apparent the shows weren’t going to go ahead and they had to get out of the US straight away.

The next day, the team booked three separate flights back to Australia.

"We first had to drive the six hours from San Francisco to Los Angeles to board our international flights, as we were unable to book domestic flights," Jorgensen said.

“I formulated a plan on the flight home because I knew when we arrived we would have to cancel over 30,000 tickets to Pub Choir events in Australia and around the world.

“I thought, there must be a way we can still connect with each other.

“We are all connected through technology but it’s that sense of community that is really hard to hold on to at a time like this.”

An image of Astrid Jorgensen celebrating Pub Choir's third birthday on her couch in March this year.

Astrid Jorgensen celebrating Pub Choir's third birthday on her couch in March this year.

Astrid Jorgensen celebrating Pub Choir's third birthday on her couch in March this year.

Enter Couch Choir.

All you need is a computer (or a recording device) and your voice.

The team uploads three videos of different harmonies on the Pub Choir Facebook page, and encourages couch singers around the world to record themselves singing at home.

And this is when the magic happens.

“We were overwhelmed by the number of submissions for the first Couch Choir event. We received over 1000 videos from 18 different countries in two days.”

But this was just the beginning.

The Pub Choir team have since hosted their second Couch Choir, featuring a heartwarming rendition of David Bowie’s Heroes.

An image of many faces on a computer screen during Couch Choir's rendition of Heroes. The image features former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the centre.

Click the play button to watch the Couch Choir rendition of Heroes, featuring former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd AC.

This time they received more than 6000 video submissions across 45 different countries, including an appearance by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd AC.

“Making new experiences and creating positive moments with each other is much harder at the moment,” Jorgensen said.


“If we can offer people just a 30-minute distraction out of their day, then that’s all we could ask for.”

When reflecting on her time at UQ, Jorgensen said her arts degree taught her how to express herself externally.

“We were taught the Kodály Method, a Hungarian music theory, which helps to articulate music.

“I’ve always been able to hear music in my head, but I didn’t know how to describe it. This training helped me to categorise the sound thoughts I had in my mind.”

Fellow UQ alumnus Meg Bartholomew (Bachelor of Arts '11, Bachelor of Education (secondary) '11) also played a key role in the creation of Pub Choir events.

“We missed making music with friends when we left uni, and that’s when this all began,” Jorgensen said.

During this period of isolation, Couch Choir will continue to be a "happy and safe place to get together", but Jorgensen is excited to return to the Pub Choir shows soon.  

Learn more about Pub Choir via Facebook, or keep up to date on the Pub Choir website.


An image of many faces on a computer screen during Couch Choir's rendition of Heroes. The image features former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the centre.

Click the play button to watch the Couch Choir rendition of Heroes, featuring former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd AC.

Click the play button to watch the Couch Choir rendition of Heroes, featuring former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd AC.

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