Community Arts

Yes, we think we achieved our goals. We had 73 paid members during this project with some 40-50 participating at every performance. Rehearsals are well attended, with some 50-60 members each week. Because we are a community based senior chorus, there is no expectation that every member attend every rehearsal or performance. The biggest challenge at the beginning of the project was that our accompanist had a stroke, and we needed to find a new one. We continue to sing a variety of music and to have one to three small ensembles or soloists sing at each performance. Members work hard to learn new music all the time, while maintaining a repertoire for on-going sing outs. We exceeded our expectations this year because our community Holiday Concert was on a day where the sub-zero temperatures left us afraid we would be singing to the walls. But, no. We were delighted to still have some 600+ attend. We continue to be asked back by the State Fair, municipal parks, and for the first time were asked to sing at the American Swedish Institute. We changed our advertising to senior clubs and residences by sending out a brochure instead of a letter. We reached the anticipated number of seniors and actually extended our public exposure by singing Parker's Lake and Minnehaha Park. We continue to advertise in local paper. At our gig on February 14, the resident who emceed our performance was in tears at the end of our show that closed with a moving rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. When we leave, individuals in the audience invariably thank us. But, most of all, being asked back to a venue tells us the audience enjoyed our performance.