BCI and The Washington Chorus Announce Winter 2021 Virtual Open Sings
As choral singers patiently continue to follow physical distancing guidelines, Berkshire Choral International and The Washington Chorus will continue their innovative Virtual Open Sing collaboration through Winter 2021. The Fall series attracted between 300 and 500+ participants per session, giving eager singers an opportunity to learn and engage with the repertoire and choristers they miss so much. One participant noted, “The open sings create a clear and wonderful excuse to SING…and can I say again what a total joy it was to ‘sing’ for each of the three terrific directors?”
The Winter 2021 Virtual Open Sing series will take place on the last full week of each month with a Monday evening masterclass on the work led by the conductor followed by a Friday evening open sing and Zoom party. Singers can subscribe to the full series for $40 or register for individual programs for $15 each. Registration is available at The Washington Chorus website. Proceeds are shared equally between the presenting organizations.
Rogers is Artistic Director of The Washington Chorus and Director of Choirs at University of Michigan
Romey is Artistic Director of The Minnesota Chorale and Choral Advisor for The Minnesota Orchestra
Nemhauser is Music Director of Berkshire Choral International and Director of Vocal Studies at Mannes School of Music
An additional virtual program focused on high school and college-age singers will be announced in January.
Participants have praised the program as a way to stay engaged with singing during the pandemic. One said, “It’s as close to singing a real concert as we can come right now, and it amazes me how close it comes. It’s one thing to sing to an album on iTunes, but it is a completely different experience to sing with a conductor. It feels real somehow.” Another commented, “Thank y’all for being so creative in making music happen during this awful year of the pandemic. It is so very healing & life-affirming.”
