The chorus came together this fall as an already established ensemble. Which is not to say that everything is the same. A few new faces squeaked in the door at the last minute, and weekly rehearsals have solidified with a core group of singers who have really made the weekly commitment and were not distracted by illness, injury, or other life events that take time and attention.

Our first song in five-part harmony is really shaping up. I think we can all be proud of how we have worked together to make that happen. Thanks to the remarkable musician/singer/composer/educator Dr. Ysaye Maria Barnwell who wrote the amazing song “On Children.” I can see a future that includes the chorus bringing her to Duluth for a workshop. That’s long-range planning and dreaming; but I like to imagine what’s possible.

We’ll be performing prior to the Duluth Superior Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve concert. Just a little warm up set in the DECC ticket lobby. This is a great opportunity for us to reach an audience that may not have heard us before. I always love these kind of casual situations, too, because it gives us a chance to just go for it. We’ll perform what we have right now and enjoy ourselves without a lot of stress or anticipatory tension.

The chorus takes a break on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I hope everyone enjoys the breather.