Voices in the Laurel is a non-profit, regional choir program for singers in 1st through 12th grades who pass an audition. The choirs currently have members from Haywood, Buncombe, Jackson, and Swain Counties. The groups rehearse on Tuesday evenings beginning August 25, at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Our concert season runs from late August through April, and includes four ticketed local concerts with optional performance tour or festival opportunities during the summer. Treble Makers, a new addition to Voices last year, is for singers in first and second grades. An audition is not required for this group; however, new singers are encouraged to set up a time to sing for the director during audition times. Concert Choir is for singers in 3rd through 6th grade. Chamber Choir is for singers with unchanged voices in 6th through 12th grades. Members of the latter must pass an audition.
Rehearsals focus on teaching music through choral music and developing healthy singing habits and beautiful voices. In addition to the vocal coaching and musicianship, the choir members learn teamwork, discipline, leadership, as well as history and culture through the texts of the music. Voices in the Laurel Choirs sing many styles of music, including classical and art music, multi-cultural music from all over the world, gospel and African-American spirituals, and even Broadway and jazz numbers. The choirs are often accompanied by professional solo instrumentalists, chamber and string orchestras, and jazz trios. These are profound music experiences for these young singers, many of whom would not have these opportunities outside of Voices in the Laurel. It is the only organization of this kind in western North Carolina.
Martha Weathers Brown founded Voices in the Laurel in 1996, and continues to serve as the Artistic Director for all of the choirs. Brown has been a public school music teacher for seventeen years on elementary, middle and high school levels. In addition, she has worked as the children's choir and Chancel Choir director at Long's Chapel United Methodist Church , where she continues to be an active music volunteer. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Asbury College in Wilmore , Kentucky ; a Master of Music in Education from the University of North Carolina Greensboro ; and finally, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. “There is not a more beautiful sound in the world that that of a children's choir singing their best. I knew this work was my calling the first time I heard a community children's choir while I was at UNCG. Non-profit business is challenging at best, but every moment of hard work is worth it when the choir sings that first note at a concert.”
Voices in the Laurel has a rich history of choral excellence with concerts all around western North Carolina, including performances at Biltmore Estate, Diana Wortham Theatre, and with the Blue Ridge Orchestra. Last season, the choirs performed with the Asheville Symphony, and sang Mozart’s Requiem with the University Singers of the University of North Carolina Asheville. Past summer performance tours include New York, Chicago, San Francisco, London, Paris, Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, South Carolina, and festival participation in Hawaii, Denver, and the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia! In the summer of 2009, Voices in the Laurel was selected as a Choir in Residence at the North Carolina Summer Institute of Choral Art at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, where the singers performed with Dr. Rollo Dilworth and with Dr. Jeffery Ames in a study of the African-American Spiritual and gospel music.
When asked why travel is part of the program provided by Voices in the Laurel founder and artistic director Martha Brown said, “while all travel opportunities are optional for singers, the festivals and performance tours enhance to music education experience provided by Voices in the Laurel and allow choristers to sing in exciting venues with other choirs from all over the United States and the world, under the direction of famous conductors.” At the end of the upcoming season, 5th-12th graders in Voices in the Laurel will be participating in the Windy City Youth Choral Festival in Chicago June 23-27, 2010, with composer/conductor Francisco Nunez.
Auditions for Voices in the Laurel are by appointment. For an appointment or further information on booking the choir to sing or making a tax-deductible contribution, call (828) 734-8413 or visit the website at www.voicesinthelaurel.org.
“Voices in the Laurel inspired me to work hard at singing and made me fall in love with music.” - Clara Burrus, former chorister now a senior music major at UNCG
“I just love Voices. It is my favorite day of the week. I sing all of the time.” – Makayla Hall, 5 th grade chorister
“I can never put into words what Voices in the Laurel did for my daughter. Often it was the most positive thing in her life.” – Jackie Hess, former chorister mom
“Singing is cool. I like learning all of the different songs in different languages.” – Samuel Kolodski, 6 th grade chorister
“The thing I miss most about my childhood is Voices in the Laurel . I loved every moment of it, and now I am excited to help others sing.” – Jessica Howard Red, former chorister, now married and serving on the Board of Directors
“Voices in the Laurel is for young people who want music to be a part of their lives for the rest of their lives.” – Sharon Flushing, Voices in the Laurel Operations Manager.
