The St. John Recovery Choir will hold its first rehearsal for the fall session from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the Lower Campus Great Room of Gifft Hill School.
“Everyone is welcome, whether you have experience singing or not,” said choir director Kristen Carmichael-Bowers. “We just ask that you attend rehearsals regularly and commit to learning the music.”
Because Carmichael-Bowers knows that some would-be members are off island during the fall, she is allowing new members to join as late as Nov. 1. She will provide sheet music, CDs, lyric sheets and links to online recordings for those who want to start practicing.
Those interested can get further information or register by emailing her at info@singstjohn.org, or by calling or texting her at (802) 380-0761.
Carmichael-Bowers, who has worked for decades with singers of all ages and levels of ability, makes every effort to accommodate different learning styles among choir members.
The choir will spend 10 weeks preparing for holiday concerts that include songs in celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the Solstice.
“The music we’re doing is music that brings joy to most people,” said Carmichael-Bowers. “The emphasis is on fun, on community interaction as members develop their musicianship and vocal technique.”
Carmichael-Bowers believes singing should be joyful. “Even as we work for a quality product, the process has to be joyful; mind, body and spirit have to be engaged. Singing is work, but my job is to make that work fun.”
Membership in the Recovery Choir is open to anyone aged 15 and above, and children aged 9-14 with an adult. Thanks to support from St. John Community Foundation, V.I. Council for the Arts, V.I Lottery, the National Endowment for the Arts, Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands and generous individuals, there is no membership fee. Those who can afford to are asked to contribute $30 to cover the cost of materials for the year.
