AUSTIN, Texas — Anyone who has ever attended live performances of choral singing knows the power that comes from voices together raised in harmony. Overtones, reverberation from a performance hall, emotions and the visuals presented by the singers’ expressions are uplifting and inspiring to audiences who are often left breathless in the experience.
Singers themselves are fulfilled in the camaraderie of a choir. Joy, beauty, peace and excitement are shared in a group whose purpose in coming together is to make beautiful music.
Courtesy: Chorus Austin
Chorus Austin is now in its 56th season. Membership is not limited to only Austin residents. Six members of the group live in Round Rock and have been involved for many years. Alto Fran Rush, for example, has a background like many of the members: she has been singing since seventh grade. She auditioned for what was then named the Austin Civic Choir when her youngest child left for college. Rush joined two other singing groups, and again auditioned for Chorus Austin in 2007, and said, “I have been happily singing ever since.”
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, put a temporary stop on such in-person choral gatherings. Due to the natural expulsion of droplets that singers project, mouths open, diaphragms thrusting air up and out caused conditions that were not safe for close-contact rehearsals and performances. A new way of singing together had to be found. Therefore, online the members of Chorus Austin all went, to stare at computer screens, to sing in solitude from their homes, with its music director and fellow singers in view. They cannot be together standing close to one another in a room for many months yet to come. But the shows go on.
“In these times of isolation, Chorus Austin has been forced to move to the virtual world, something never before thought of for musicians,” said Chorus Austin’s Music Director Ryan Heller. “I am so proud of our singers for pivoting to coming together online, to connecting with one another and our community at large, and for being willing to explore new ways of how we can be of service.”
Its virtual concerts are posted online and donations to Chorus Austin are requested, but not required to view the videos. From November 7 through November 21, “Stronger, United” is available to anyone. It is a combination of new and previously recorded pieces from the Chamber Ensemble, the smaller group of singers. The Symphonic Chorus is the larger.
The non-profit organization is now preparing for its annual holiday concert, “On a Winter’s Eve,” which will debut online on Saturday, December 19. Warm-ups and music notes are given each week to the choir in the same way Heller does it in person. “Breathe here.” “Make that ending quarter note an eighth note.” Such markings help a choir sing unified, of course.
“While challenging, these times have afforded us the opportunity to use digital rehearsals to get to know one another more,” Heller continued, “to spend more time in the mechanics of singing or the details of a piece, and even to have special guests with us…including celebrated composer Dr. Roland Carter, and Austin Symphony Orchestra’s Peter Bay.”
Rush, a former Chorus Austin president, expressed thoughts about Heller that each of the members share. “It has been a pleasure to have an artistic director who keeps moving the bar up so that the entire chorus will someday match the choir in his head.”
Round Rock resident and Soprano section leader Mary Takvam agreed. “It has been a joy to see how much we have grown, in so many ways. Ryan Heller has made making music with our voices a thrill. He has taught us how to produce a beautiful sound that is united and free, while at the same time, a joy to be part of.”
Audition information for interested singers will be available in the near future.