PORT TOWNSEND — The Community Chorus of Port Townsend and East Jefferson County will celebrate its return to singing this fall after a long hiatus created by the pandemic.
Choristers will launch their first official rehearsals in 2½ years on Sunday.
This will be the first official time singers have been together since March 2020, although some singers participated in practice sessions this summer.
All singers 16 and older are welcome and no auditions are required. Men are particularly encouraged to sign up. Experienced choral singers and novices alike are invited.
Registration starts at 6 p.m.; singing is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1111 Franklin St., Port Townsend.
Practices continue on subsequent Sundays in preparation for November concerts. Registration is $35.
The chorus board of directors has chosen “We Rise Again” as a theme — a song, but also a fitting motto given that the singers haven’t had formal rehearsals since spring 2020, when they had to stop abruptly due to COVID-19.
Some chorus members participated in “tune-up” sessions this summer with director Sarah Moran and accompanist Liz Hopkins.
Board members called the sessions valuable for exercising and retraining their voices.
“It has been nearly three long years since the chorus was able to present a program to our friends, neighbors and the community,” said chorus president Linda Atkins.
“Your Community Chorus is back.”
For everyone’s health and safety, the chorus asks that participants show proof of vaccination, and since rehearsals will be held indoors, masking will be required.
The protocols follow COVID guidelines suggested by member choirs of the regional choral association, the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium.
The Community Chorus was founded in 1975. Part of its mission is to help singers return to singing if they haven’t sung in years. To that end, many types of support are offered, including optional bonus rehearsals, vocal skills aid and sound files to assist in learning the music for those who need them.
Another key component of the organization’s mission is education. It offers a scholarship to promising college students and high school seniors who are continuing their studies of vocal music at the college and university level.
For more information about the Community Chorus, visit ptchorus.org or call 360-385-1402.
