Community members welcome at Heart of the Valley Chorus rehearsals
Members of the Heart of the Valley Chorus invite community members to sing with them at three free, open rehearsals this holiday season.
Anyone ages 9 to 99 who enjoys singing in the “treble” range — soprano, alto, mezzo and high men’s parts — can come learn seasonal and holiday songs, and experience singing in the four-part barbershop style. Singers under 16 are welcome with an adult.
“It can be intimidating to try out or visit a chorus, especially if you haven’t sung since high school,” Mollie Hartford, a member of the chorus for the past four years, said in a statement. “This program is meant to be welcoming, fun and accessible for people who love singing.”
Last holiday season, the chorus welcomed more than 20 visitors from the Connecticut River Valley. There are no auditions, and singers do not need to be able to read music.
“If you can carry a tune and like to harmonize, we want to hear it!” Chorus Director Stephanie Flinker said in a statement. “We will help you figure out which voice part is right for you.”
The Heart of the Valley Chorus has been bringing its blend of barbershop harmonies to the Connecticut River Valley for more than 40 years. Members come from Northampton, Greenfield, Belchertown, Hadley, South Hadley, Easthampton, Westhampton, Goshen, Williamsburg, Holyoke and Chicopee, and range in age from their 20s to their 80s. The chorus sings a variety of music — jazz, Broadway, contemporary and inspirational.
The group’s open holiday rehearsals are scheduled for Wednesdays, Nov. 18, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Christ United Methodist Church on Rocky Hill Road in Northampton. The final performance will be held at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m.
Anyone who is interested in joining this holiday program should contact Stephanie at heartofthevalleychorus@gmail.com or visit heartofthevalleychorus.org to sign up.
Learn watercolor painting with Danielle Lucier
Artists ages 12 and up can join Danielle Lucier to learn the basics of watercolor painting at Artspace Community Arts Center, 15 Mill St. in Greenfield, on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to noon.
More information is available at artspacegreenfield.org/event-details/basics-of-watercolor-autumn-veggies.
Workshop, concert to raise money for Montague Common Hall’s Accessibility Plan
Cornetist, composer and bandleader Taylor Ho Bynum will bring his quintet to the Montague Common Hall, located at 34 Main St. in Montague, on Sunday, Nov. 15, for an afternoon improvisation workshop and an evening concert, with the Montague Marching Band as the special guest.
Presented by Weathervane Community Arts as a benefit for the Montague Common Hall’s Accessibility Plan, the programming begins at 4 p.m. with a workshop open to musicians of all skill levels. Those participants will then take the stage as part of the evening concert. At 6:30 p.m., Bynum will be joined by Noah Campbell (saxophone), Ziaire Trinidad Sherman (saxophone), Daniel Lin (cello) and Luther Gray (drums) for a concert featuring the workshop participants and the Montague Marching Band.
The suggested donation is $20 for the concert, $20 for the workshop and $30 for both, though no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. All proceeds will benefit the Montague Common Hall’s Accessibility Plan, which includes a new wheelchair ramp to make the historic hall welcoming to all.
Tickets and details are available at weathervane-arts.org.
