Chris MacLean is an award-winning Singer-songwriter; a registered Voice Movement Therapy practitioner (VMT); and Community Choir Facilitator. She LOVES to sing and considers it a universal birthright.
Her career spans 30+ years of composing and performing Folk/Roots, World, and Jazz; and has taken her across the globe. She has 3 recordings of original songs, and is featured on several others. She is one-third of the acoustic, harmony-rich trio, Paugan Dames.
Fuelled by a desire to share her passion for singing, Chris took the Ubuntu Community Choir Leadership Training in 2015. She subsequently started the non-auditioned Song Kitchen Community Choirs in Ottawa and Wakefield QC. She teaches by ear (no sheet music), with a strong focus on building community through the joy of singing in harmony, as a team. Having FUN is paramount.
For 2 years, Chris led The One World Choir, pairing new Canadians, many of whom were refugees, with more established immigrant Canadians for a fun, mutually rewarding experience. Stress from trying to cope with an unfamiliar language, feelings of isolation, and estrangement were mitigated by singing together.
Chris leads Lifesong, an intensive voice-liberating workshop based on VMT principles; Circle Singing; and singing retreats in the Outaouais and beyond.
A bow to her mentors – Amanda Mabro (vocal technique); Rhiannon & Bobby McFerrin (Vocal Improv & Circle Singing); Anne Brownell & Barclay MacMillan (VMT); Siobhan Robinsong & Denis Donnelly
