Sing and volunteer with us in Minneapolis & St. Paul.
Giving Voice oversees three choruses in Minneapolis and St. Paul in collaboration with MacPhail Center for Music. Each chorus rehearses once a week and performs at least one concert each fall, spring, and summer session. Giving Voice also provides assistance for Amazing Grace, an African-American chorus in St. Paul.
Chorus members include people with dementia, their care partners, and volunteers. We welcome any person who is living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia who can attend the structured weekly rehearsals and, most importantly, wants to make good music and good friends! There are no auditions, and no musical training or experience is necessary.
Singers are encouraged to join the group at the beginning of a session. Each singer pays a registration fee of $75 for each fall and spring session, and $50 for the summer session.
Questions? Contact (612) 440-9660 or info@givingvoicechorus.org.
Minneapolis
at MacPhail Center for Music (ONLINE SUMMER SEMESTER)
Giving Voice Chorus in Minneapolis is a unique and joy-filled choral experience for people living with Alzheimer’s and their care partners.
Two Minneapolis choruses rehearse on Wednesdays throughout the year under the director of MacPhail Center for Music teaching artist Jeanie Brindley-Barnett. Rehearsals are 90 minutes long with social time at the beginning and end of each rehearsal.
Giving Voice Chorus in Minneapolis is supported by generous donors of MacPhail Center for Music including the Rusty and Mary Jane Poepl Foundation.
Summer Session
Online!
June 16, 2021 – August 11, 2021
Wednesdays, 10am-11am
Wednesdays, 1pm-2pm
$75 per screen
St. Paul
at Lyngblomsten Chapel (ONLINE SUMMER SEMESTER)
Our chorus in St. Paul is a collaborative project of Giving Voice, MacPhail Center for Music, Lyngblomsten, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Jewish Family Services of St. Paul, and Health Partners’ Center for Memory and Aging.
The chorus rehearses at Lyngblomsten Chapel, 1415 Almond Ave, St. Paul, MN, From 10 am–noon on Mondays under the direction of MacPhail Center for music teaching artist Jeanie Brindley-Barnett. Weekly rehearsals are 90 minutes long with social time before and following rehearsal.
Summer Session
ONLINE!
June 14, 2021 – August 9, 2021
Mondays, 10am-11am
$75.00 per screen
In Person Chorus is Suspended for Twin Cities Choruses
In light of the current circumstances with COVID-19 and community safety, rehearsals for all three Twin Cities Giving Voice Choruses are canceled until further notice. We have been in partnership and communication with MacPhail and Lyngblomsten on this decision and believe that this is in the best interests of all involved.
In response to the social distancing requirement, Giving Voice was excited to launch Giving Voice Live, a virtual time for socialization and singing!
As a way to build community in our choruses during this time of no rehearsals, Giving Voice Live is an opportunity for singers to connect over video and share conversation, laughter and song. This online session allows singers to give updates and hear how others are doing, share stories and engage in simple songs. These online sessions are held during the regular rehearsal time and have similar structures to the Giving Voice session. It brings us joy to see our singers smiling faces each week!
Volunteer with Us
Volunteers help us deliver a rewarding and inspiring choral experience. You can volunteer as a dementia friend in the chorus or as a helper with day-to-day operations.
Volunteer dementia friend. Our volunteer dementia friends give care partners a break by singing alongside the person with dementia, helping her or him follow the music and lyrics, taking instructional notes and ensuring that all the singers have a comfortable and enjoyable experience during rehearsals and performances. This is a weekly commitment during the day on Monday or Wednesday for a 14-week session. Rehearsals are 2 hours in length.
Operations volunteers. Volunteers with operations experience help us run a well-organized chorus. You can volunteer one time or on an ongoing basis. We need volunteers in the following areas:
- Rehearsal and concert refreshments
- Concert box office, ticket takers, and ushers
- Concert stage crew