Sing Out!

Benvenuto,everyone!

I'd like to write about choirs today. It's been a very long week for me, and researching and interviewing quickly became my last priority. I am a student at Troy University, as some of you may know. I had three tests this week, as well as a presentation, some smaller homework from one class, two interview projects, an extra voice lesson, preparation for a band concert that is less than two weeks away (and my horn broke last rehearsal), my game master asked me to run a story game for my friends (of course I accepted), and the research for these posts which are technically assignments and have some very specific requirements.

All this and more has been my long and arduous week of school. I didn’t have time to meet with any of my singers for lessons, which is usually one of the highlights of my week. Instead I took time to wind my brain down in choir.

I sing with Troy University’s Collegiate Singers. While the group is Troy University’s non-audition group, it is actually quite good, and it provides an environment that I hope every singer can experience at least once in their life.

Not all choirs are accepting and understanding. Choir should be that pocket world, a safe haven for the weary and beaten. There’s nothing more powerful than a community coming together to make beautiful music and to love and accept each other for everything they are.

Choir is important to the LGBTQ+ community. Voices across the spectrum can feel safety, feel power in numbers, feel dysphoria fade in the gentle lull of beautiful music. The world seems more complete with music. It’s the one art form that brings people together so easily, and togetherness is just what this world needs.

If you are a singer, whether you are trans, cis, agender, nonbinary, demigender, genderfluid, or any color of the rainbow, reach out to each other and sing sweet melodies (and harmonies if you’re feeling creative). Communal singing is so important in a world where voice is going out of style.

People are singing less and less, and even speaking is in decline. The less we use our voices, the less we have the ability to. So use your voice and use it often. As I say at the end of every post, cantare- sing out. If you love to sing, sing together and sing loud.

Cantare!