About Island Soul Choir
Island Soul Choir is unlike any other choir on Vancouver Island, and there are many reasons for it.
Unlike traditional choirs that rehearse weekly, Island Soul Choir rehearses just once every three to four weeks, in large part because our music director, Karla Mundy, has to travel from Vancouver to rehearse the choir.
As a result of the extended time between rehearsals, the choir attracts singers from all over Vancouver Island — from Victoria to Port Hardy, and from Bamfield to Quadra, Salt Spring and Gabriola Islands. From the beginning, the choir has consistently had a membership of over 100 singers, and it kept growing. We finally had to cap the size of the choir at 140 singers.
Island Soul Choir accepts anyone who loves to sing — no auditions are required, no previous choir experience is necessary; singers don't even need to be able to read music. So there is a wide range of singing skills among the members.
Our repertoire of soul music includes gospel, spirituals, world music, blues, pop, soul, R&B… basically any type of music that touches, moves or inspires the soul. We regularly bring our audiences to their feet, singing, clapping and even dancing along with the music.
So come and join us — either in the audience or in the choir. You won’t be disappointed.
Click on the following topics to find out more!
Island Soul Choir was founded by Ron Klusmeier and Brian Tate in August 2007. For the first 2 years, the choir operated as Vancouver Island Gospel & World Music Choir, under Brian’s direction and with Ron managing the choir. In the summer of 2009, the choir changed its name to Island Soul Choir, as part of incorporating as a non-profit society and assuming responsibility for its own management.
At each concert, Island Soul Choir typically features emerging musical talent as guest artists. If you or your group would like to be featured at one of our concerts, or you know of someone you think we should consider as our guest, please let us know!
Karla Mundy joined Island Soul Choir in January 2012, co-directing the choir with Brian Tate until May 2013 when she assumed full responsibility for directing the choir.
Karla Mundy is a vibrant, soulful and diverse vocalist, pianist, arranger and choir leader. She directs Harmony Mountain Singers (North Van), Rhythm 'n' Roots (East Van), EarthSounds (Bowen Island) and Island Soul Choir (Vancouver Island). She loves leading harmony singing workshops and has taught at GSGW, Voiceworks, Beyond Trad, Sing Smithers, VIMW, SongRoots, and many choir and work retreats. Karla is the founder of SongRoots and is the main organizer of many vocal workshops, retreats, camps and singing/study trips. She is passionate about providing opportunities for people to sing in harmony and learn about their voices and music in a fun, encouraging and inclusive environment.
As a performer, Karla is a founding member of the No Sh!t Shirleys, TriVo, Cleia, Plough, and Tanglewood Trio, and she released her first solo CD called Way Back in 2012.
Michael Creber is a Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning artist who was dubbed “a cross between Floyd Cramer and Thelonius Monk” by one LA reviewer. As one of the West Coast’s most sought-after musicians, Michael pursues a wide-ranging career as a pianist, film composer, arranger and producer; embracing many genres of music such as jazz, Latin, R&B, rock, pop, musical theatre, country, folk and classical. He has performed as a featured guest with many symphony orchestras across North America and has recorded and toured internationally with k.d. lang (including performances on Saturday Night Live, the Grammy Awards, Arsenio Hall, Vicki Gabereau, Austin City Limits and six appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson), the Irish Rovers (including 36 television specials) and world-renowned family entertainer Raffi (including performances on Broadway and at President Clinton’s first inauguration); he also co-produced and co-wrote Raffi's 1994 hit CD, Bananaphone. Other luminaries Michael has worked with include Andrea Bocelli, Martin Short, Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart, Regis Philbin, The Rankin Sisters, Shirley Bassey, Powder Blues, Charlotte Diamond, Charo, Jim Byrnes, Dee Daniels, Valdy, Lee Aaron and David Foster. Michael has released four albums of original music: Brand New Smile, Dancers of the Spheres, Smooth Sailing and Songs For My Baby.
Click on the song titles below to hear clips of some of our favourite songs:
- Ndithandi Khaya performed May 2018
- Everyday People performed May 2017
- The River performed with Coco Love Alcorn May 2017
- Be Your Own Light performed June 2014
- Harmonies of Faith Concert, (Iche Oluwa and Bambelela) performed September 2013
- Bambelela performed November 2012
- This Little Light of Mine audience sing-along song performed November 2012
- This Morning When I Rose performed June 2012
- Put A Little Love In Your Heart performed November 2010
- Almost Let Go performed June 2010
- Total Praise performed May 2009