BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Women's Chorus will begin its fall session this week, and any woman or girl age 10 or older is welcome to join. The theme for the session will be “Love Changes Everything,” and included will be songs by the Beatles, Holly Near, Ali Burns, Billy Joel, local musician Lisa McCormick, and others.
Unique to this chorus is that all music has been taught aurally (by ear) by director Becky Graber for the 23 years since she founded it, even music with multiple and complicated parts.
While this teaching style is uncommon in this country, it is used widely in the British Isles and has been used throughout history to pass down music.
The chorus provides additional written music on occasion, but practice recordings and word sheets are always given to help with home practice. This learning method makes chorus accessible to all women who want to sing.
The chorus will prepare for concerts at the newly-named Epsilon Spires (formerly the Baptist Church) on Nov. 23 and 24, when Lisa McCormick and the Ukulele Orchestra will join in. Singers are welcome to come and sing weekly, whether or not they will perform in the concerts.
There is the choice of either Wednesday night or Thursday morning rehearsals or of attending both. They will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at All Souls Church and on Thursday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Brattleboro Music Center.
If you can't make the first rehearsal, the second rehearsal is also open with no obligation to join. The fee is $120, and financial aid as well as family and student rates are available.
More information and registration materials are at BrattleboroWomensChorus.org or 802-254-8994.