Choir! Choir! Choir!: The Sing-Along Revolution and Their Harmonious Connection to Kitchener-Waterloo

Apr 30

What started as a casual drop-in singing night in a Toronto living room has since grown into a global phenomenon of communal music-making. Choir! Choir! Choir!, led by Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman (aka “DaBu”), is more than a choir — it's a participatory music experience that turns strangers into a singing collective, if only for one unforgettable night.

Founded in 2011, Choir! Choir! Choir! invites audiences to be the performers. There are no auditions, no rehearsals, and no pressure — just lyrics on the screen, harmonies taught on the fly, and the magic of hundreds of voices joining in real time. Their shows range from intimate tributes (Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, David Bowie’s Space Oddity) to full-blown singalongs with surprise celebrity guests (Tegan and Sara, Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright, David Byrne).

The group has performed across North America and beyond, including the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and even on Parliament Hill — but their heart remains rooted in connecting with communities large and small. And few communities have embraced their joyful spirit like Kitchener-Waterloo.

Choir! Choir! Choir! brought their feel-good, sing-your-heart-out magic to Centre In The Square in 2019, filling the theatre not just with an audience — but with hundreds of singers. That night, the show became a celebration of community voice, a reminder that music isn’t just something you listen to — it’s something you create together.

Kitchener-Waterloo, with its vibrant arts scene and strong choral traditions, proved to be an ideal stop for the group. The crowd, ranging from students and retirees to first-time singers and seasoned pros, helped turn the venue into a pop-up choir loft. What began as an ordinary Wednesday became a full-volume moment of harmony, laughter, and release — a concert, therapy session, and party rolled into one.

Their KW visit was part of a broader Ontario tour that further confirmed what Goldman and Adilman have known all along: when people sing together, something special happens. Boundaries drop, moods lift, and voices — regardless of skill — blend into something far greater than the sum of their parts.

Choir! Choir! Choir! has built a global community around the simple, radical idea that everyone can sing. With over 80 million views on their YouTube channel and features in The New Yorker, The Globe and Mail, and BBC World Service, their impact stretches well beyond the stage.

For audiences in Kitchener-Waterloo, their performances are remembered not just as concerts, but as collective memories — the kind that live long after the final chord. Whether it’s belting out The Beatles, Bowie, or Beyoncé, Choir! Choir! Choir! turns every city into a choir and every voice into an instrument of joy.

2018 @ Kitchener Public Library