Astrid Jorgensen OAM, founder and director of Pub Choir, has revolutionised music participation, transforming it into a global phenomenon that unites diverse audiences through collective singing.
Starting in a small bar in Brisbane, Pub Choir has grown into an international sensation, with Ms Jorgensen’s skill in simplifying complex music enabling participants of all levels to engage deeply with the shared experience of choir singing.
During the COVID-19 pandemic she adapted swiftly by creating Couch Choir, a free digital experience that connected voices worldwide, providing hope during isolation and subsequently becoming a live, national TV show on SBS. Beyond music, Ms Jorgensen has used her platform for charitable efforts, raising significant funds for causes like MND and Me and Women’s Legal Service Queensland. Her contributions have earned her an Order of Australia Medal and recognition as a leader in cultural integration.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
“My career path didn’t exist, so I forged it myself! I have wholeheartedly thrown myself into so many pursuits in the past. It is in trying so many things that I learnt the difference between what is right for me and what is not. My career now with Pub Choir is a mixture of everything that I learnt along the way, that I’ve tailored to my abilities and interests.”
Looking back to the day you first set foot on campus, is there any advice you would give that person now?
“Don’t give blood on an empty stomach. Which is what I did on my first day at UQ. I didn’t have enough money to buy lunch and they were giving away handsome snacks outside the blood donation van, so I subsequently fainted during my first-ever lecture. I came to on the floor, looking up at my lecturer, and decided to bring lunch from home in the future.”
