Community Sing-Alongs
No Greater Joy – Community Sing-Alongs
The 110 volunteer members of the Larimer Chorale know that singing in a choir is one of life's most joyful and rewarding experiences. Formal choirs, however, take time, resources, rehearsals, and infrastructure. Choral masterworks demand meticulously delineated vocal parts that fit together in a delicate balance. Formal choirs, such as the Larimer Chorale, require a knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced conductor and a dedicated volunteer membership. Not everyone can commit to the dues and financial investments or the personal and group discipline that formal choirs demand. The Larimer Chorale thus proposes to foster Community Sing-Alongs in order to reach out to every person in Larimer County who wants to sing. Through these Community Sing-Alongs, the Larimer Chorale aims to immerse the community in a shared artistic experience that lifts spirits, promotes singing by children and adults across Northern Colorado, and preserves songs that reflect our multicultural heritage.
We want this to be a community where every resident can experience the joy of singing, without having to join a formal choir. Making music together is a great community-building tool and sing-alongs are a fun and unique way to spend quality family time. When we sing, we bring our bodies and our intellect into the effort. We become engaged with others. As Michael Hann, The Guardian’s Film and Music editor, says, “There’s no greater joy than singing with your family, when it doesn’t matter whether you’re in tune, or if you don’t know the words.”
When and Where Will the Sing-Alongs Be?
The Larimer Chorale’s season usually ends in April or May so our first Community Sing-Along will be planned for summer, giving us a way to extend our season. If funding allows, we will hold two events in the summer of 2012. Eventually, we plan to hold Community Sing-Alongs in conjunction with major holidays. We will stage our Community Sing-Alongs in local dinner theaters and restaurants that already feature live music. We will build partnerships with these businesses, asking them to help with publicity and outreach. All venues will need a piano, a stage, the means by which to project the lyrics, and the ability to comfortably seat several hundred people.
What Will We Sing?
Our Community Sing-Alongs will be led by strong singers from the Larimer Chorale who will select the music and prepare the event. We will select music that is likely to be familiar to the audience: show tunes; folk songs; classic rock and roll; Steven Foster tunes; Gilbert and Sullivan; patriotic music; and children’s songs. We will find songs that we have in common in order to enhance the feeling of community and shared endeavors. We will invite minority populations and foreign exchange students at Colorado State University to suggest songs from their cultures.
How Can You Help?
We are actively seeking grants and donations to cover the costs of launching this program. We are also looking for venues and for interested participants. If you can help or if you want to receive further information, please contact us at larimerchorale@gmail.com or at 970-416-9348.
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