Twin Cities Choruses – Register for Fall 2021 Below

Sing and Volunteer with us Online

Giving Voice oversees three choruses, which will be held online 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.

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 per screen for our virtual sessions.

Questions? Contact (612) 440-9660 or info@givingvoicechorus.org.

Fall Semester 2021 Online

All of virtual choruses will be held virtually in partnership with MacPhail Center for Music. Rehearsals will be held via zoom on Mondays at 10am, Wednesdays at 10am, or Wednesdays at 1pm. All of these virtual choruses will be directed by MacPhail Teaching Artist Jeanie Brindley-Barnett. Rehearsals are 60 minutes with an opportunity after rehearsal for breakout groups for those that would like to have some social time to meet and connect with fellow members of the chorus.

Fall 2021 Chorus Virtual Options

September 13th to December 8th

Mondays, 10am-11:00am

September 15th to December 10th

Wednesdays, 10am-11:00am
Wednesdays, 1pm-2:00pm

$75 per screen

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

Apply to volunteer! Email a Giving Voice staff person at info@givingvoicechorus.org.

Singers: member login

Online resources:

Member login

FAQs about volunteering

I may want to volunteer with Giving Voice. How can I find out more about what is involved?

We encourage you to observe a Giving Voice rehearsal. To make arrangements, please contact info@givingvoicechorus.org.

I’ve never interacted with people with dementia. Do you provide some sort of training for volunteers?

With the Giving Voice choruses hosted in Minneapolis and St. Paul, we do provide periodic training on working with people who have dementia. We access experts from various Alzheimer’s organizations to train volunteers on dementia friendly components, especially behavior and communication.

My parent/partner has advanced (late stage) Alzheimer’s. Is the chorus a possibility for him/her?

Giving Voice choruses typically have people in the early to mid- stages of Alzheimer’s who do not live in a care facility. Accommodating the daily and physical needs of a person with late-stage Alzheimer’s isn’t feasible. You may want to check with the care facility about music options available to residents. Music programs such as Music and Memory may be helpful.

My parent/partner lives in a memory care facility. Is the chorus a possibility for him/her?

If the person is able to attend a weekly rehearsal, participation in a Giving Voice chorus may be an option. We recommend that you consult with the chorus director to discuss the specifics of your situation.

Are chorus members asked to leave the chorus when meaningful participation becomes more difficult?

As a chorus member’s disease progresses, it may become apparent that he or she no longer enjoys or is benefitting from the experience, or it may become physically difficult to participate. It has been Giving Voice’s experience that the care partner decides whether or not to continue.