Bigfork revives community choir for the summer
Dr. Art Crane directs the Bigfork Summer Community Choir during practice on Monday, July 22. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
Warm light fell through stained glass and poured over a dozen singers, some still in their work clothes, as the Bigfork Summer Community Choir filled Community United Methodist Church with music Monday night.
The summer choir began June 10, resurrected after a near 23-year hiatus from the last Bigfork community choir.
“There aren’t a lot of churches that have choirs anymore, and there’s lots of reasons for that,” Community United pastor Wendy Ochs said. “People enjoy choir music and people love to sing, so we just thought it would be fun to give an opportunity for anyone in the community to be able to sing.”
Dr. Art Crane, who directed the Bethany Lutheran Church choir, and Dr. Jordan Neiman, who directs at Community United, teamed up to make the music happen.
“It doesn’t matter what their backgrounds are, singing will bring people together,” Crane said.
Anyone over age 15 is welcome to join the choir, no musical background or church affiliation required. Roughly four churches are currently represented by the singers. Now the choir is largely women, and Crane would love to add more parts.
“Come. Find a note, sing it. No formal training is necessary, we don’t do auditions unless they really are in a key of their own, and then they can be the rests,” Crane said with a laugh.
The original plan was to run the choir for five weeks, but if there is interest in its continuation, the directors are open to it.
“Even if it ends for part of the year, it will start again,” Neiman said.
There are plans for concerts in Everit L. Sliter Memorial Park, at Community United Methodist Church, and at Bethany Lutheran community dinner before the end of the summer. Updates will be posted to Bigfork Area Bulletin Board on Facebook as plans solidify.
“It’s just a wonderful way for folks from all walks of life to come together and do something they love to do. Music is something that connects everybody,” Ochs said.
Bigfork Summer Community Choir meets Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church. More information can be found at bigforkumc.org.