BRATTLEBORO — Students from Oak Grove School in grades 4-6 will join their voices in song with adult volunteers to perform a free 30-minute concert at noon on Wednesday, May 18, at the Brooks House Atrium on Main Street.
The Oak Grove Intergenerational Chorus, directed by Oak Grove School vocal music teacher Andy Davis, has been performing every spring since 2004 in area nursing homes and schools. The group was formed when two area teachers, Irene Bergman and Andy Davis, recognized the role that a school chorus could play as a service learning project. The students have become very skilled at bringing music to the elderly members of our community, according to a news release.
The unique feature of the chorus is the blending of voices ranging from elementary-age singers to retired volunteers who join the group for the sheer joy of singing. Some of the volunteers are members of other area choruses and bring choral skill and experience to the group. The students experience vocal music as a lifelong activity that makes connections among the singers and within the community.
The group's music is selected from a wide variety of music styles and cultures. This year's program includes folk songs from the British Isles, a hand clapping game from West Africa, a Cuban folk song, American popular music, the Beatles, and an original composition by the group's director based on a quote from Albert Einstein.
Each year, the chorus makes two morning tours of area nursing homes, schools, and community centers. A free lunchtime concert for the public has been an annual highlight.
The concert is free, although donations are always gratefully accepted. Bring a bag lunch and enjoy the music.