The Brattleboro Women's Chorus is seeking new singers to join us for an exciting spring session, honoring and featuring songs created by African Americans.
On Mother's Day - Sunday, May 12 - at the Latchis Theatre, they will offer a concert of thanks and appreciation for all the richness given by the composers, named and unnamed, with African roots. Their music this spring includes songs by Ysaye Barnwell, Bobby McFerrin, Melanie Demore, Rollo Dilworth, and Stevie Wonder. Local artist Samirah Evans will be their featured soloist as well.
They will kick off the season with an extended first rehearsal on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Brattleboro Music Center, where Director Becky Graber will introduce some of the songs they'll sing in the spring. After this introductory weekend, registered singers will have access to recordings to listen to until weekly rehearsals begin. Weekly rehearsals for the "concert singers" will be held in West Brattleboro on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning Feb. 29.
The Chorus will also offer a "relaxed singing" chorus on Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon at the Brattleboro Music Center for those who want to continue to sing together without the pressure of working between sessions, and without an attendance requirement. They will sing some (but not all) of the same songs as the evening session, and morning singers will be able to sing in the concert on some songs, if they choose to.
To put their repertoire into some historical context, the Chorus will also welcome Dr. Kathy Bullock to lead a virtual workshop called Singing in the Spirit: The African American Sacred Music Tradition. The workshop will take place on Zoom Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 pm. This event is open to the public, and registration is required by Jan. 18 at BrattleboroWomensChorus.org/workshops.
Registration to join the Chorus is required by Jan. 19. For more information and to register, visit BrattleboroWomensChorus.org/join-us.
This The Arts item was submitted to The Commons.