TEDxUQ: Building Community Through Music

Vicki Bos and the UQ Voices Choir Shine at TED

10 December 2024 I The Queensland Institute

“TED is a non-profit that believes powerful ideas, powerfully presented, move us: to feel something, to think differently, to take action.”

On August 10, 2024, The University of Queensland campus buzzed with excitement as TEDxUQ welcomed QI trainer Vicki Bos, one of the creative minds behind the UQ Voices choir, to the stage. Her powerful talk, "How do we use a choir to build a community?", captured the hearts of the audience as she shared the transformative role of choral singing in enhancing the university experience for international students in Australia.

Vicki’s presentation highlighted how music builds connections, fosters inclusion, and supports language learning for students far from home. Through heartfelt stories and practical strategies, she showcased how the UQ Voices choir has become a beacon of community and support, bringing together students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Watch Vicki’s full talk here.

A packed audience of almost 600—including QI colleagues Fiona Wiebusch and Ceara McManus, alongside students and members of the wider UQ community—listened intently as Vicki described the joy and confidence choir members gain from singing together.

A standout moment was the UQ Voices choir’s moving performance of "United in Song", a piece specially composed for the occasion by Annika Bos and Nan Wang. The song’s powerful lyrics and melody perfectly encapsulated the themes of unity and belonging that Vicki articulated so passionately. The performance resonated deeply with the audience, making it an unforgettable highlight.

UQ Voices perform ‘United in Song’

The choir itself is a collaborative effort supported by the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement) and the Schools of Psychology and Music at The University of Queensland, with event support from Teaching in Harmony and The Queensland Institute. Together, this group have created a vibrant space for students to share their voices and build meaningful connections.

The UQ Voices leadership team, including Vicki and Fiona, recently co-authored a peer-reviewed article titled "UQ Voices: Building a Community Choir for International Students Following the Global Pandemic," published in Australian Voice. The piece explores the choir’s journey and its role in promoting cultural diversity, inclusion, and mental health.

Read the full article here: Australian Voice.

Citation:
Bos, V., Han, R., Wiebusch, F., Broughton, M. C., & Dingle, G. (2024). UQ Voices: Building a community choir for international students following the global pandemic. Australian Voice, 25. https://doi.org/10.56307/AGZM2288

Keen to get involved?

The Queensland Institute is incredibly proud of Vicki’s TEDxUQ achievement and are delighted to support initiatives like UQ Voices that embody the values of diversity, inclusion, and global engagement in education.

If you’d like to learn more about the choir, lend your support through sponsorship, or simply get involved as a choir member, reach out to Fiona Wiebusch via email or find us on Instagram at: @uq_voices

We’d love to hear from you!