WELCOME

Harstine Island Community Choir was established the fall of 2004 with the goal of providing a meaningful interactive vocal experience for local residents interested in exploring their amateur or professional singing skills. With music ranging from classical through traditional to popular selections, their summer and winter concerts are drawing larger and larger audiences. Organized and directed by a professionally qualified and conservatory trained director, the music presented is the result of hard work and practice, which is the only cost of membership in this growing chorus.

Selections in concert have ranged from Bartok to Mozart, from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols to German carols such as O Du Froeliche, from the Israeli Folk song Hava Nagila to Dawsons’s spiritual Soon Ah Will Be Done, from Haydn’s Gloria in Excelsis Deo to Fine/Copland’s Shaker song Simple Gifts. The main thrust is a broad, rich musical experience for those interested in raising their voice in song.

The music variety is more vividly illustrated by the June concert themes, such as the 2005 inaugural concert of Choral Music in America (1742-1990), Madrigals in 2006, and the Hungarian Concert in June 2007. The music is not only presented in song, but is accompanied by script and discussion to provide the historical background and different music qualities of the songs.

The choir rehearses every Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 from September to mid June. Although a choir for Mason county and beyond, our name is derived from the location of our rehearsal venue, Harstine Island Community Hall. The rehearsals are structured for building and re-awakening vocal skills that haven't been used for a while, since one often hears, "but I haven't sung since high school choir." At the start of each rehearsal, the director presents exercises not only to build vocal range, flexibility and blend, but also to introduce the singers to patterns and nuances of the music they are learning, facilitating and enhancing the pleasure of singing.

Choir members range from teens in junior high and high school to senior citizens in their seventies, from Shelton, Arcadia, Lake Limerick, Mason Lake, Timberlakes, Harstine Island, Allyn, Belfair...). Membership is open to all singers, from those who have never sung before to those with stage experience. Residents are encouraged to audition for the choir. For information on this painless and comfortable opportunity, call Elizabeth Berndt, 360 432 9940 or e-mail: elizabeth@soundplan.com.

 

 

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