'Why We Sing' concert next up for Valley Voices

The Valley Voices Community Choir will perform a pair of free concerts, Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21.

Saturday’s concert is at 7 p.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. Sunday’s show is at Kalispell’s Trinity Lutheran Church at 3 p.m.

The name of the concert is “Why We Sing,” and choir director Allyson Kuechmann explained how she chose the concert’s title.

“In our day and age when the world is chaotic, even in our community,” Kuechmann said. “It’s nice to have something we can hold on to, to have something to inspire us and encourage us, and that’s what music does for us.”

The community group will perform songs in a variety of genres, from a Swahili song (“Tuimbe”) to Mozart’s “Ave Verum.” Kuechmann and the choir are also celebrating Armed Forces Day (May 20) with a series of patriotic tunes, including a performance of “Songs for the Unsung Hero” while a video presentation honoring local servicemen and women is playing.

David Mahoney will play guitar on three Valley Voices tunes, including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” and renowned violinist Wai Mizutani will join the group for five songs. Mizutani has performed frequently with the group and the Valley Voices will return the favor when they sing at an upcoming Mizutani concert.

For more information on the Valley Voices Community Choir, visit www.valleyvoiceschoir.com.