Family Folk Chorale, based in Arlington, MA, just outside Boston.  The director is Chris Eastburn.  

 

I used to co-direct The All Together Now Family Chorus in the Boston area, as well.  We ended just this past May.

 

Let me know if I can be of any help to you.

 

~Christina

Sari, There is an intergenerational choir --Leverett Community Chorus--in Leverett, MA (western Mass, near Amherst), now in its sixth year, directed by Anne Louise White.  Sorry, I don't have an email contact for them.  They are a lively bunch, lots of families. They usually perform in the historic Congregational church in Leverett Center.  Cathy Melhorn

Thanks for your posting. I am starting an intergenerational community choir and orchestra in Santa Cruz, CA this fall. While I have directed plenty of church and school choirs over the years- this will be the first time I have started a large format ensemble with no established parent organization for resources, rehearsal space, and regular audience built in. But the time has come to get out of the box! With all of the cuts in school budgets, the growing silo-ed nature of internet games and small group activities (such as garage band schools which seem to popping up everywhere around here), and the necessary, yet isolating private lesson world- the need for family, social, and collaborative performance opportunities is at an all time high! One can only have so many bass players or praise team singers, but a choir can grow and grow and grow!

 

This great idea's time has come... Some of my very best singers from the Aptos High School Choir (which I directed in 2009/2010) and their parents will be singing with us due to the budget cuts and lack of support in public schools for choir and music programs. The exciting thing is that even a few of the seniors who plan to stay in the area and attend local colleges can participate- (You can't do that in public school system!) We are hoping to attract high school students and their families and are launching a community website in order to get the word out not only to potential participants, but also to the Santa Cruz arts community at large. While there are plenty of online resources for events such as "Good Times" and the standard online newspaper listings, there really is not one good consistent source for groups, vendors, organizations, products, and promotors to connect. Many of our local choirs and artists complain about the way local news and so-called enterntainment resources either flatly refuse to publish, or allow event listings (conveniently) to fall through the cracks. Getting a review from these resources is worse than trying to get an abusive parent's love and attention. There is much misbehavior by local arts news writers brought on by huge egos and small-minded mentality, and the students/families at large are the victims... It is senseless, really how difficult it is to find any kind of support from the media here, even in a town loudly proclaiming its artistic and creative community! Even the most established performing organizations have to dance on hot coals to get tiny media morsels. It is shameful, indeed.

 

So, I guess one could say I am not only creating the music program I am also initiating the promotional/social vehicle for my choir and all the local groups and artists who serve our community. The site is intended truly to promote all the performing arts and technologies in our area, not just our little group.

 

While this sounds like a huge undertaking (and it is) I feel like parents are looking for opportunities to connect with their high school and older children in quality fun, musical, and creative ways. This is something that public or private education has missed or will be missing as budgets and support continue to dwindle. So, as great as private lessons are for learning- The need remains for social, group oriented ensembles to enhance musical skill while providing the community with exciting possibilities for inspiration. Our current challenges are getting the word out for singers, finding a central (and affordable) location to practice, and basic choir administative organization (without it becoming a full time job with no pay for the director :)...

 

I would be very interested in following any discussion threads regarding intergenerational community based groups, so please keep me in the loop!

 

-Stephen

Sari,

 

In Birmingham, AL there is one family I know of that sings as a group - The Ritchey Family. There are 12, 10 kids from about age 3 - 16. I'd be happy to give you an email to contact them. Just email me privately.

 

Jeff Caulk

jhcaulk(a)samford.edu

thanks so much everybody!  i will contact the choruses you mentioned, and Stephen, i'll let you know what all I find.  -Sari