About 33 people gathered on June 24 for the initial rehearsal of the Encore Chorale of Pasadena. Although the sun wasn’t shining that day, the stained glass windows of the Trinity Lutheran Church on Walnut were still magnificent. We all speculated on how glorious they would be once the sun did shine. It is a beautiful old church with lots of warm wood and charm.

Tuesday was a day of introductions and getting-to-know-yous. Villager Dan Golden, the organizer of the chorale, was on hand in the parking lot to welcome and give directions. In the foyer, we were greeted by Joshua Vickery, the CEO of Encore Creativity, our partner in this pilot program, who supplied name tags and music. We were then sent to our respective sections: soprano, tenor, alto, bass - if we knew, that is.

Then the fun began. After we introduced ourselves to our neighboring singers, our director, Holly Barber, came around and welcomed each one of us. Holly obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Principia College and then went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from California State University, Los Angeles. She is known in this area as a musician, educator, conductor, photographer, and writer. The credentials don’t tell the whole story, however. She is full of enthusiasm, encouragement and is just plain fun to sing with. As Villager Gary Smith noted: "As I finished the first Encore choral rehearsal, I realized I would probably enjoy these next few weeks of choral singing more than I had imagined.The reason is Holly Barber, the musical director. She displays such a contagious enthusiasm for creating musical beauty that even the more timid beginners (like myself) find the confidence to participate. No small feat!"

As stated in their literature: “Encore Creativity for Older Adults is the nation’s largest choral organization for adults 55 and over. With over 1900 singers, and over 50 ensembles (and growing!) nationwide in more than 10 states, Encore is a leading organization in the field of creative aging. We envision a world where all older adults have a place in the arts.” Joshua explained that the collaboration between Pasadena Village and Encore Creativity is a pilot program to see if there is an interest in establishing a permanent choir here.

Here is the good news: you don’t need to have previous experience in choral singing to participate! There are no auditions, no voice checks unless you request them. Villager Pam Meyer was uncertain whether she belonged in the alto or the tenor section. Holly had offered to help anyone with that question, so Pam approached her. “After testing my range, [Holly] affirmed that I do belong with the altos… She was so very encouraging!”

Choral singing is a great joy - the camaraderie, the blending of voices, the sense of creating something beautiful - are all more than enough reasons to join in. Villager Paula Rao, an admitted newcomer to ensemble singing, stated, “The director is a brilliant musician and teacher, so kind and patient and well prepared for those of us who are newbies. If I stick with it long enough I might figure out how to read choral music.”

Registration is still open to Villagers and friends. If you have a hankering to sing, but think you are not good enough, throw those worries aside. Just do it for the joy of it! Go to https://encorecreativity.org/pilots/ to learn more or contact Villager Dan Golden for more information. His contact info is in the Membership Directory.

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