2024 is a special year for Lismore's popular singing group, Isabella A Cappella. This year, the group celebrates its 40th anniversary of entertaining audiences in Lismore, the Northern Rivers and internationally.

Isabella A Cappella was founded by the late Isabel Atcheson in 1984 to give students and staff at The Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education (now Southern Cross University) a chance to sing and perform together. Since then, it has nurtured over 150 vocalists from the Northern Rivers region and helped them develop into more confident and well-rounded musicians.

Sadly, the group's funding from SCU was cut in 2021. Post Covid, the choir has been managing to 'survive' with Musical Director Grace Cockburn donating her time and expertise.

"Isabella A Cappella is representative of our diverse and thriving Northern Rivers community, Grace told the Lismore App, "It's members range from 25-62 years of age and come from all different backgrounds and musical experiences."

"Acappella music is a very challenging art form and requires the careful and connected attention of each individual to contribute to the group sound. It can be a rewarding and humbling experience and challenges the most accomplished vocalist. The musical growth that each member receives is important and often cathartic and deserves support from our community.

(Isabella A Cappella performing at Carols In The Heart last year)

"Isabel Atcheson's legacy lives on through the people of this choir, and it's very important to me to keep that alive."

As this is Isabella A Cappella's 40th anniversary, the group is reigniting its presence in the Northern Rivers community.

They will be recording and releasing an album, and hosting a 40th-anniversary celebration gig and touring Japan late this year. The choir has a long legacy of musical friendship tours to Japan, but this year, they need your help to get them there.

In the past, Isabella A Cappella has completed 10 tours of Japan, and helped raise $50,000 to build the Japanese Centre at SCU, that is now in it's 20th year of operation.

During the tour, they will promote and sell the album as well as maintain and build on their long-standing relationships with Lismore's sister city, Yamato Takada , in Japan. The album and Tour celebrate the legacy of Isabella A Cappella.

Isabella A Cappella has been working hard on their own arrangement of songs by Australian and New Zealand artists with the hope of recording an album.

"As we haven't had funding since 2021, we need to raise funds to record the album and send the group to the planned musical friendship tour of Japan."

You can help Isabella A Cappella achieve their goals by donating through their GoFundMe page.

"We started this GoFundMe to put all these songs on an album and finally share them with the world," Grace said.

To donate, click on the link https://gofund.me/5668ce43.

You can watch Isabella A Cappella perform their magic at the Lismore Lantern Parade Heartbeats Festival Stage at 2:50 this afternoon.