Spectrum Accord​​

A new adult community singing experience.
Starting April 18, 2023 in Gig Harbor, WA. Register below! 
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ac·cord
early 12c., "come into agreement," 
"be in harmony"
from common Latin "be of one heart"
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Calling all adults who love music, community and trying new things! Do you sing in the shower or while driving your car? Have you always wanted to try singing harmony in a group or considered taking voice lessons? Or perhaps you sang in your school choir and miss it? 

Did you know? When people sing together, their heartbeats fall in sync! Singing together as a community can be traced back to the earliest history of humans. It is a natural, ancient practice and primal need that should still be a regular part of our modern culture. Yet, opportunities for adults and communities to sing together are sadly limited. 

Spectrum Accord is our response to this need - a new and unique community singing opportunity for adults! Inspired by The Village Green Project, we believe all humans can - and should - sing together, experiencing the joyful power of uniting voices in harmony.

Accord singers will work with  Spectrum Choral Academy's Artistic Director, Stephanie Charbonneau, and Collaborative Pianist, Julie Mandery, for five short weekly rehearsals and one performance! We will explore our singing voices in a casual and fun environment while working to create a beautiful and healthy vocal sound. Our five rehearsals will focus on 3-4 choral songs including Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World and Jim Papoulis' Stand Together to perform onstage with Spectrum Choral Academy at their May 20th Spring Concert. We may also lead the audience in a sing-along, so even more people can experience the joy of singing together! If this initial offering is popular and there is a desire within the local community to continue beyond the May concert, we will look into options for Spectrum Accord to continue gathering throughout the summer/fall. 

Open to all age 18+. 
No auditions / No previous music experience necessary.
Practice links and recordings will be provided for self study.
Spectrum Choral Academy parents & alumni are encouraged to participate!
Experienced singers are invited to help lead sections and teach harmonies.  

​Singing as a community: 

• ignites the brain! The parts that process language, emotion and movement are all activated. 
• is an aerobic exercise that releases endorphins and boosts our mood and reduces stress. 
• encourages deep breathing which results in a full oxygen-exchange in the lung's cells. This slows the heart rate and dilates blood vessels (reducing blood pressure!).
• enhances our sense of empathy and social connection. 
• provides a healthy outlet to express joyful and difficult emotions through music.

Spectrum Accord Rehearsal Dates:
Tues, April 18, 6-7pm
Tues, April 25, 6-7pm
Tues, May 2, 6-7pm
Tues, May 9, 6-7pm
Tues, May 16, 6-7pm
Location: Harbor Covenant Church, Gig Harbor
*enter through Door E, meet in the sanctuary

Dress Rehearsal/Concert:
Sat, May 20, 2023 @ Chapel Hill Church, Gig Harbor
~ 10:15-11:15am (exact time TBD) dress rehearsal with Spectrum
1:45pm Call Time / Photos
2:30pm "One World, One People" Spring Concert
            with Spectrum Choral Academy 

The Village Green Project 2023 Facebook Discussion Group was founded in January 2023 with the purpose of bringing together people of all walks of life, in search of common ground. Starting out as a virtual community discussion group on Facebook, we now have over 300 virtual members from around the globe. The group discusses what unites us as humans, regardless of socioeconomic status, political and religious beliefs, race and gender. Throughout the months of January and February, one discussion topic was the unifying and healing power of music (and specifically singing). All humans need a balance of their physical, mental, emotional & spiritual selves. Singing has been shown to scientifically improve the state of all four of these, including boosting the immune system, creating a sense of community and forming connection. Quality music flows into humanity at a deep level - inspiring both the performers and listeners. It helps us tune in with and feel something - uniting humans regardless of individual beliefs. 

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Concert Attire: solid-black dress clothes of your choice. 
 
Cost: $50 per singer (includes music purchase & concert admission for the performer)
Additional concert tickets are available for purchase by family & friends attending the concert - $15 each adults / $10 students
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Have questions? Call or Text -  
Becca Kaaukai, Administrative Assistant
360-440-2097  Email: spectrumchoir@gmail.com   

Stephanie Charbonneau, Artistic Director
360-271-8086

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​“For tens of thousands of years, humans sang together and singing was something that was communal, something that everyone participated in. Everyone sings. Everyone dances. People say all the time, ‘I can’t sing. Or I’m not good enough to sing.’ This is a shame. It goes against our evolutionary history and tens of thousands of years of singing together…” - Daniel Levitin, author of “This is your brain on Music”
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“For our species to mature - we must come together as a community & keep alive practices of love, truth, beauty and goodness...Music is fundamental for what a love of wisdom and a quest for truth and beauty is all about. The music can disclose some truths. And the music can reveal some beauty. And the music can actually promote some goodness.” 
- Dr. Cornel West, Philosopher 

Singing together does this! When we gather as a community and raise our voices in song, we can create something more powerful, moving and healing than any one of us individually.