Brattleboro Harmonia was founded as the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus by Becky Graber in 1996 to unite the Brattleboro community through song and is now organized as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization with this mission statement. The first group of 50 singers met in what was KidsPlayce in the fall of 1996 and prepared songs that were performed in the midst of a snow storm in December (which then led us to change our concerts to November). The music chosen was diverse and spirited, and the singers kept returning – and still do return each semester – for more!
Thirty years later, we changed our name to Brattleboro Harmonia, seeking a more inclusive name to take us into our next decade of harmonies!
While a lot has changed in the three decades Brattleboro Harmonia has been together,
our tenets remain strong:
Community, friendship, heart-felt music, inclusivity, and joy.
While the group was founded by and for women, inclusivity is a philosophical tenet of this group.
Who Can Join?
Brattleboro Harmonia is a chorus of treble voices, open to women and non-binary/gender-queer folks ages 10 and up. The only requirement is your ability to sing in a vocal range that comfortably includes the A in the middle of the treble staff (soprano, alto, tenor ranges).
Becky and Anna teach the music aurally – by ear – making BH accessible to all who have the desire to raise their voices in song. The ability to read music is not required, though occasionally sheet music is used, and there are no auditions. You can see all the information on joining here!
About Rehearsals
Brattleboro Harmonia meets for two sessions a year, one in the fall and the other in the spring. Weekly rehearsals (currently Thursdays) run two hours, with a short break. Singers can choose to rehearse in the morning or evening. Once the songs are learned and polished, these sessions end with a concert for the community (which singers can choose to be in or not). There may be an extra rehearsal leading up to our concerts as well.
Concerts
The session ends with concerts for the community. Participation in the concert is not mandatory, but most singers enjoy the opportunity to perform for family and friends. Guest musicians are also a fun part of the concert experience.
Join Us
We hope to meet you in person either if you are a singer who is Interested in Joining us, or an audience member who would like to attend our concerts or a workshop.
