Greenwood Welcomes Singers to Join Festival Chorale

Greenwood Welcomes Singers to Join Festival Chorale

Greenwood, South Carolina – The Greenwood Festival Chorale is inviting singers from all walks of life to join their ranks. The group will be holding vocal placement interviews for both amateur and professional level vocalists on August 27 at 7 p.m. The event will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood.

This marks the beginning of a new season, and auditions are open to everyone, from seasoned vocalists to those who have never sung in a choir before. “If you have a pulse and can match pitch — the two p’s, you can do this,” said Steve Skinner, the artistic and musical director of the chorale. He emphasized that music reading can be learned. “We can learn and teach along the way, as we sing,” he added.

Commitment to Rehearsals

The chorale holds rehearsals every Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, located at 108 E. Cambridge Ave. Attendance is mandatory, according to Skinner. “You must come to rehearsals. That’s a non-negotiable,” he stated.

Skinner, who also directs the music ministries at the church, said the chorale attracts singers from Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, and Edgefield counties, ranging in age from high school students to older adults.

Diverse Musical Selection

The group’s repertoire includes classics by composers such as Handel, contemporary choral works by Dan Forrest, folk songs, spirituals, and a variety of other pieces. They perform multiple concerts throughout the year, including a Christmas concert scheduled for December 10, an early spring concert as part of the church’s cultural arts series called Festiva, and a lighter music concert in late spring.

Members adhere to a dress code for performances: male singers wear tuxedos, and female singers wear all black.

Community and Teamwork

One of the key attractions of chorale music for Skinner is the sense of teamwork it fosters. “We have people from all walks of life, professional singers and musicians to the other end of the spectrum. Musical training is not required to do this. I am available to coach, and a lot of people take advantage of that, coming in to work through some things,” he explained.

Keith Martin, 63, of Honea Path, attested to the supportive community within the chorale. Martin, who has been singing bass since joining in September 2023, described his experience as rewarding. “I don’t read a lot of music but with the chorale, it has been a thrill to succeed with challenging music,” he said. Martin added that fellow chorale members who are proficient in reading music are always willing to help. “If you have an ear for music, you’ll be all right,” he noted.

Growing the Chorale

Currently, the chorale has about 50 members, but Skinner is eager to see those numbers grow. Interested individuals can schedule a time slot for the vocal placement interviews online through the chorale’s website: gwdfestivalchorale.com or directly via this link: https://shorturl.at/i0fYW. Interviews will begin at 7 p.m. on August 27 at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood.

For more information, you can contact Steve Skinner at 864-943-2518. “There’s a voice range for everybody,” Skinner assured, adding that there are simple ways to expand one’s vocal range.

Greenwood Festival Chorale is looking forward to welcoming new members as they embark on another season filled with beautiful music and community spirit.