What is the Kingston Pop Choir?

Each month in 2026, we're bringing together a room full of people to learn and sing a song - no auditions, no experience required, no long-term commitment. Each session features a local musical artist who will lead the group in an arrangement of an original song or a popular cover. These are one-day choirs: playful, welcoming gatherings where folks come together to sing, connect, and create something bigger than themselves.

Special Guest for May: Andy Rush

Andy Rush (he/him) is the retired founding artistic director of Kingston’s Open Voices Community Choir. He taught high school band, choir and guitar for 30 years and music education at Queen’s for 20 years. Andy has led impromptu singing events at many Ontario folk festivals, through Rabble Singing Kingston, at Community in Song weekends and at the Haliburton School of the Arts... all told for about 45 years! Andy plays double bass in Django’s Kitchen and maintains an active teaching studio at his home. Andy LOVES to arrange a new song for a gang to sing together, and it’s about time he did Lost Forever by Blue Rodeo.

The Song: Lost Forever by Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo, one of Canada’s most enduring rock‑country bands, has been a major part of the music scene since the ’80s. “Lost Together,” from their 1992 album of the same name, is one of their most recognizable songs — a Canadian staple with a simple, honest message about sticking with each other through uncertainty, something that feels especially relevant these days. Even decades later, it remains one of their most requested tracks.

Here’s a video created by CBC Music during the early days of the COVID‑19 pandemic, featuring people from across Canada singing “Lost Together” alongside Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy:

Meet Your Hosts: Steph Drouin and Paul Barton

Steph Drouin (she/her) is a singer, songwriter, song leader, and Expressive Arts Therapist. She is the dreamer and fire behind Kingston Pop Choir. For a decade, she has been leading groups of people of all abilities into easeful, joyful, and healing singing experiences. She is the founder of Fiercely OK, an organisation that uses singing and the arts to nurture wellness and community. Informed by a lifelong relationship with anxiety, she is passionate about creating spaces where you can feel safe to show up exactly as you are. She is super excited to be co-creating this joyful community singing experience!

Born and raised in Kingston, Paul Barton (he/him) is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter passionate about creating an inclusive musical culture. He has produced music for films, played jazz professionally, recorded 12 solo albums, played in pit orchestras, and taught guitar at Queens University. But his favourite musical thing to do is show regular humans how easy it is to create beauty. Along with Steph Drouin, that's what he does in Fiercely OK song circles.

Steph and Paul have been facilitating community song circles together for over 8 years. In a world where everything moves so fast, and neighbours no longer know each other’s names, they feel the most important contribution they could make is to re-weave place-based community. Getting people singing is their favourite way of bringing people together.

Get ready! As a team of gifted space holders and song weavers, Steph & Paul will not only create an accessible and uplifting musical experience for you, but also an environment that is welcoming of your fierce and tender human self.

What to Expect

We will start the event with a short warm-up song, maybe some stretches, and a fun singing exercise to get us listening and creating harmony. Then we'll dive into learning a 3-part arrangement of this month’s song. Don't worry about preparing in advance. We'll guide you through the process step by step.

The Venue

This event is in the Rehearsal Hall at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning.

Parking is available in the lower lot adjacent to the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts for free on Saturdays and Sundays.

Parking in the accessible lot adjacent to the Tett is also free and for those with accessible parking passes ONLY. Free street parking is also available in the neighbourhoods north of the Tett.

This venue is accessible for most wheelchair users and equipped with accessible/gender-neutral bathrooms. For examples of the Tett Centre’s accessibility features - including photos, image descriptions, and additional details - please refer to the Detailed Access Notes for Modern Fuel, located on the 3rd floor.

A Few Other Notes on Accessibility

There will be a mix of sitting and standing options, including chairs and cosy floor space. You'll be encouraged to honour your body.

Lyric sheets will be made available. We will use a mic/amplifier as needed to ensure facilitators are heard.

An emotional support person will be identified and available at each session, and quiet spaces for retreat will be clearly identified.

An Access Kit will be available, including stones from Lake Ontario for holding and grounding, sunglasses, earplugs, colouring pages and crayons, N95 masks, granola bars and cups for water.

We invite everyone to remove outdoor shoes so the space stays cosy and comfortable for sitting on the floor. You’re welcome to bring indoor shoes, warm socks, or slippers - whatever helps you feel at ease. If keeping your outdoor shoes on is what you need, no problem at all; we just ask that you give them a quick wipe with the towel provided. Outdoor shoes are not permitted on the Tett Centre carpets. Thank you!

You can find Access Notes for Kingston Pop Choir HERE.

No one turned away for lack of funds.

Kingston Pop Choir is committed to being accessible to everyone, regardless of financial ability. The suggested contribution is $20, with a sliding scale of $10-30. However, when you reserve your spot, you can enter a price that's right for you, even if it's zero. The beauty of community is that, where some can give less, others can give more, and it all works out.

If contributing financially isn’t accessible right now, but you have energy or skills to share, we’d love to hear from you (email steph@fiercelyok.ca). We have a couple of volunteer spots available at each monthly gathering.

Children

Young people who can stay engaged or entertain themselves quietly during the 3‑hour event are welcome. Pre‑crawling babies are also welcome. Children under age 13 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no fee for children under 7. For children ages 7-12, the suggested contribution is $10 per pop choir event. For youth ages 13-17, the suggested contribution is $15.

If bringing a young, energetic human would help you attend, please reach out - we’re happy to find a way forward together. Parents with young ones are welcome to step in and out of the space as needed or leave at the break.

Photo/Video Consent

Heads up! We plan to capture a few videos and photos to share the power of what we are creating with the wider community. Don't worry - we won't be zooming in on individuals (except the Special Guests). Our goal is to capture the group experience. If you don't want to be on camera, please let us know in your registration form and/or check in with our camera volunteer. We'll make sure your wishes are respected. This is important to us!

Late Arrivals

To preserve the musical intimacy of the event, we ask that you arrive no later than 30 minutes after the start time. Thank you so much!

Wellness and Mask Policies

We ask that participants complete their own wellness self-assessment before attending the Kingston Pop Choir. Please attend only if you are feeling well and have not recently been sick or been in contact with someone who was sick. If you are unsure whether you should attend, please reach out to Steph - we will navigate the way forward together.

Masks are optional and most likely will not be worn by most participants. We invite you to do what is most comfortable for you. We will have a handful of N95 masks available in our Access Kit. Please bring your own if you're able.

Cancellation Policy

Tickets are refundable up to 24 hours before the event. Please note that booking fees are non‑refundable. Because space is limited, each spot is precious. If your plans change and you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket or let us know as soon as you can so we can offer your spot to someone else. Thank you!

If you must cancel your attendance at the last minute due to illness, you will be offered a credit which can be applied towards a future event. So please do stay home to keep yourself and others well. 💕

Payment Options

Credit Card:

You’re welcome to pay by credit card through Humanitix. Please note that booking fees apply. Humanitix donates any profits from booking fees to charity.
Kingston Pop Choir absorbs payment processing fees.

Cash:

Select your tickets as usual, then enter the discount code CASH to reduce your total to $0. Bring your cash payment with you to the event.

E‑Transfer:

Choose your tickets normally and apply the discount code ETRANSFER to bring your total to $0. Send your e‑transfer to gifts@fiercelyok.ca (no password required) either before completing your registration or immediately afterwards.

Your spot is confirmed once payment has been received. Thank you!

Big THANKS!

This event is produced in partnership with Fiercely OK, who is generously lending their online hosting platforms and mailing list support to help make Kingston Pop Choir possible. We are also deeply grateful for financial support from the City of Kingston and the Kingston Arts Council through the City of Kingston Arts Fund. This event truly wouldn’t be possible without this collective support. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We also thank Réjean Lemay for the photo of Ren on the event banner, and Katia Chistyakova for all other photos of Steph & Paul you see in the background of the banner and in the event description. We are so grateful for your artistry and support, Katia and Réjean!

Any questions?

Please reach out via phone to 437-344-5543 or by email to info@fiercelyok.ca. We're here to help!

Contact the host of Kingston Pop Choir: Lost Together by Blue Rodeo