Augusta forming new ‘Lift Your Voice’ community choir
Trending
Submitted photo
Augusta Artistic Director Emily Miller, center, will direct the 'Lift Your Voice' community choir , which will begin rehearsals this month.
ELKINS -- The Augusta Heritage Center is launching a new community choir this month, and offering a nine-week inaugural season.
The "Lift Your Voice" choir will be directed by Augusta Artistic Director Emily Miller. Guest workshops from Xavier Oglesby, Ginny Hawker, Val Mindel and Sandy Burky will teach songs from our region's Appalachian singing traditions.
"It is exciting to be offering more opportunities for group singing in our region," Miller said. "As someone whose life has been changed for the better by choral music, I am delighted to share an opportunity to celebrate rich local singing traditions and have a powerful choral experience."
Rehearsals will take place on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. from April 26-June 21, with a dress rehearsal on Thursday, June 23, and a final concert on Friday, June 24. All rehearsals will take place in the Augusta Dance Pavilion on the Davis & Elkins College campus.
"The concert will feature a diverse and exciting program of traditional vocal music, including gospel, old-time, Primitive Baptist, Helvetian Swiss yodeling, shape-note, and more," an Augusta press release stated.
Singers of all levels, ages and vocal ranges are welcome to participate in the choir rehearsals.
"The project aims to increase opportunities for creative aging and lifelong learning in the local community," the release states.
Singers can learn more and register at augustaartsandculture.org.
This project is made possible with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.