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FJC-callJoin Us in Song

Do you like to sing? Do you like history? Do you like swing, blues, gospel music, improvisation, hand clapping, foot stomping, freedom songs, and the opportunity to perform at this year’s Healdsburg Jazz Festival? Then the Healdsburg Jazz Freedom Jazz Choir is for you!

NOTE: This page reflects the 2013 Freedom Jazz Choir. If you want to register for the 2014 Choir, please go to this sign-up page. Thank you.

The choir is a free-of-charge community ensemble. Participation will be open to all regardless of age, background or musical ability, and will bring diverse communities together for a rich musical experience.

Choir members must commit to
4 rehearsals and 3 performances.

Rehearsals are: Saturdays on below dates, from 2 pm to 5pm at the Community Baptist Church, 1620 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa, 95405 (see map).

  • February 23
  • March 30
  • April 20
  • April 27

Performances Listed Here

Please plan on being available from  5:30 to 10 p.m. these evenings:

  • Saturday, May 11 (Santa Rosa)
  • Saturday, May 18 (Santa Rosa)
  • Thursday, June 6 (Healdsburg)

Led by composer, bassist, educator and activist Marcus Shelby, the goal of the choir is to create a group, building on the diverse demographics of Sonoma County, to come together in song, using music as a unifying force.  The Freedom Jazz Choir will offer performance opportunities for participants to work alongside professional musicians, creating a profound cultural experience fostering cooperation and understanding while expanding awareness of and access to jazz and American culture.

Santa Rosa’s Adam Ivey and the Joyous Noise Ensemble will also participate and contribute music from its gospel repertoire.

In 2013, this project will showcase the music from “Soul of the Movement: Meditations on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”, a musical suite for big band and choir inspired by the music in the Civil Rights Movement. The music and lyrics will include Shelby’s arrangements and orchestrations of spirituals and freedom songs associated with Martin Luther King, music from the Joyous Noise Community Baptist Church Ensemble, as well as material composed during the Civil Rights era by notable composers such as Charles Mingus, Nina Simone and others.

Choir members will have the opportunity to discuss freedom songs from their own background and suggest specific compositions to be included in the choir’s public performances.

lo_h_bw_300dpi_cmyk_aaMore information about this James Irvine Foundation-supported program can be found in this press release.

 

16 comments

  1. I am trying to register and the website won’t accept my info. when I click on the sign up button – any help would be appreciated.

    1. The sign-up process includes a “double opt-in” stage. Once you sign up a second window appears asking that you verify your email; you do this by checking the email account you used to sign up and click the link in that message, which will verify that it’s a real email account and not a spam. It may be that this is the message you are seeing – your name will be added when you confirm you email by this method.

      If you are still having trouble, be sure to come to the first rehearsal on Saturday, March 8, from 2 – 5 pm at Community Baptist Church. 1620 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa. You can sign up there and become part of this year’s Freedon Jazz Choir.

  2. I heard you are looking for people of color to sing. The Montgomery Methodist Church in Santa Rosa has a large Fijian population, and they have choir competitions. Great singers!

  3. Is there still space in the choir? I could come today and make the rest of the rehearsal/performances?

  4. Was so excited during first gathering. What fun! However other responsibilities have risen and I no longer able to attend. Thought I had it all covered but I don’t. I have to miss this opportunity. Best wishes for successfully coming together.

  5. Our first gathering was so inspiring and filled with smiles of joy in the music. Well done Marcus, Tiffany, Adam all the musicians and Jessica and the HJF Choir staff. I think I can speak for those of us who stayed the entire day that we had a roaring good time. Looking forward to the next rehearsal.

  6. Dear Freedom Jazz Choir,

    I just heard about this choir today and came directly to the website to find out more. I am VERY interested in joining this choir but I see that the first date was on Sat Feb 23. I can commit to the rest of the dates. Is there anyway to sign up? I would love to sing with this group. It is exactly what I have been looking for.

    I look forward to hearing from you. Yours, Ruth Mankin

  7. I just registered to sing in the Chorus at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. I’m excited to be part of this.

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