A “Sounds of Summer” concert will be held at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) Towsley Auditorium at 3:00 p.m. on August 18th. This family friendly concert will feature “Voices in Harmony” and chorus quartets. The concert is presented with support from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.
Musical Director Jennifer Jones has been singing with the group since 1996 and has held various leadership roles. “Every year, we invite our members to form Summer Quartets to perform for the chorus at the end of summer,” Jones said. “At our August concert, we will share performances from our summer quartets, registered quartets, special ensembles and our full chorus.”
“The music selections include everything from American folk songs to Taylor Swift with show tunes, country music, and of course some barbershop classics thrown in,” Jones said. “We pride ourselves on having something for everyone.”
The common ground for the performance is a cappella, which means no instruments. The performing ensembles will range from 4 to 35 people.
“Voices in Harmony” is a 40-member a cappella chorus from Ypsilanti, Michigan. “Since 1975, the chorus has provided Southeastern Michigan with the highest quality a cappella and barbershop harmony through performance, education, and community service,” Jones said. “We are affiliated with Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide singing organization, providing educational and innovative entertainment with a variety of music sung in 4-part harmony.”
“Voices in Harmony has found a perfect blend of being a fun-loving family and skilled performers,” Jones said. “We strive to be excellent singers and performers who understand the importance of laughter and friendship.”
The chorus competes on a national level as well. “We compete annually in Cleveland, Ohio, with other choruses from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York,” Jones said. “As a result of the contest, we were invited to perform at the Sweet Adelines International Harmony Classic in October 2023….We came in 3rd place and won the “Most Entertaining” award as voted on by the audience.”
Visitors are welcome at any chorus rehearsal on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the U.A.W. Local 898 at 8975 Textile Rd in Ypsilanti.
“We rehearse pretty much every Tuesday,” Jones said. “Free to visitors; dues for those who join. There is no need to worry about a formal audition, and you don’t need to be able to read music to be a successful, contributing member of the chorus. As long as you can carry your part independently in the ensemble, match pitch and blend with the singers around you, you have passed your musical audition.”
For more information, contact into@voicesinharmonychorus.org.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
