Magnetic Island and Townsville’s own celebrated choir will give a triumphal return concert at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday 21 November. This is their first major concert in two years.

Sixty singers from Magnetic Island and Townsville will gather for this gala occasion for one concert which will not be repeated.

The concert will feature many of the songs that famously earned them the title of ABC Queensland Choir of the Year including The Lion, Sao Roma, and Bright Side.

The choir has also been working hard, learning a repertoire of new songs never before heard in concert including a beautiful lullaby from Sarajevo, a hand-clapping medley from South Africa, and Java Jive, the great American standard made famous by Manhattan Transfer.

The Director of the Choir, Dr Beat Lehmann, started the group soon after he took up residence on Magnetic in 2004. He has since received a Townsville City Music Award and has been appointed Choir Director for the prestigious Woodford Festival.

Beat, who grew up in Switzerland, chooses and arranges all of the songs himself and also sings some solos, including the hilarious Dutch song, Here’s the Sun.

Beat said “I choose songs that emphasise the positive side of humanity. Some of our songs are about people trying to obtain peace and freedom or about love. But many of our songs are just plain fun. The choir has a great time singing them.”

Following the success of Aquapella’s first CD ‘Making Waves’ this concert will be recorded for a new CD to be released next year.

“The World in Song’ will be on at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Stanley Street on Saturday November 21st at 7 pm. Tickets can be obtained at the door for $12 ($10 concession).

Aquapella will then take to the road, and put their concert on in Cairns, where they will once again perform some of the best music in the North.