9/28: Blue Ridge Choir Connection
On Sunday evening, September 28, Pulaski’s First United Methodist Church (Pulaski UMC) will host a choir-building concert event called Blue Ridge Choir Connection. Pulaski UMC is partnering with regional chorus Blue Ridge Vocal Connection (BRVC) and Grove UMC to bring this ground-breaking, multi-choir concert event to the New River Valley.
Blue Ridge Choir Connection will feature music performed by up to a dozen area choirs. It’s the brainchild of Blue Ridge Vocal Connection’s director, Thomas DeBusk. But according to him, getting multiple choirs together for a concert isn’t a new idea. It’s something that used to happen among church and school choirs on a regular basis. He said one of its best-loved features is providing a place for singers in small choirs to perform with a large group of skilled musicians.
The event format is simple: rehearse for an hour, starting at 4 pm, perform during the next hour, and fellowship over a potluck dinner during a third hour.
Plans for it crystallized during BRVC’s spring vocal technique workshop when attendee Callie Kilbourne heard about it and declared, “This sounds like a great choir-building event. I’m in!” As the music director at Pulaski UMC, she immediately volunteered their facility, which houses one of the largest and most beautiful sanctuaries in the area, complete with a fine old pipe organ.
Dr. Joe Borden, Grove UMC’s music director, was equally quick to get on board, offering to co-host the event, saying, “We need this in our communities!” They both quickly realized that this concert is a great way to generate interest in choral singing and help local choirs boost their sagging numbers.
Mr. DeBusk said a limited number of slots for additional choirs to perform are still available. Interested parties should inquire via email through BRVC’s website contact form at blueridgevocalconnection.com.
He also indicated that because the event is designed to grow interest in singing together, organizers could recruit participants to create one-hit ad hoc choirs if they like. Or directors of small choirs or choirs with unavailable directors could band together to create larger groups for this one-time event.
Admission is free. Individuals interested in a large-group singing experience can participate on a walk-in basis just by attending the 4:00 pm rehearsal. Music for the group song is also on the BRVC website at blueridgevocalconnection.com.
