Singers urged to make ‘Joyful Noise’ as part of a new community choir

A new community choir, “Joyful Noise,” is currently seeking to add members
Holly Paulson, a member of the First United Methodist Church of Red Oak, has announced she will be directing a new community choir, something brand new to serve with community outreach.
“Ever since Pastor Jenn VanNostrand came, we’ve been looking for ways to reach the community and provide things they might need or might benefit from. The thrift store is pretty well up and running and self-sufficient, so we’re ready for our next project,” Paulson said. “Pastor Jenn has been doing a sermon series on the pulse of the world right now. There’s so much anger and fear and negativity, so she’s focusing right now on how to live in a world like this and help wherever we can help. We decided that a community choir might be a good way to help, and that now may be a good time to start.”
Paulson said they have been pondering this move for a long time and aren’t limiting the choir to professionals.
“It’s not going to be performance perfection. That’s not what we’re going to be about. It’s going to be about joy. We want all of our singers to leave here with a smile on their face and a song in their heart. For an hour every week, we’re going to guarantee that. Whatever else happens in their lives, hopefully this will help color it. The goal of the choir is mostly for relationship building and support and joy and singing,” commented Paulson.
As they gain members and rehearse, Paulson said she’s hopeful they can branch out and bring music to the community.
“I think we’re hoping to sing at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the square later this year. Once we have some songs learned, we’re hoping to take it on the road. I have a call in to the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association, and the response has been great,” Paulson stated. “From there, I would hope we can perform at retirement centers, Christmas parties, anywhere that there is a little space and we can stand and sing. We want it very community-oriented.”
In these first few weeks, Paulson said they’ll be sticking to a particular theme.
“Our first music will be Christmas carols because we’ll have six or seven weeks to learn the show. The tree lighting ceremony is a bit after Thanksgiving, So we can learn Christmas carols in that time and then later on as we move from this year into next year, we’ll learn some current songs, we’ll learn some themed songs. We could maybe even do a Disney-themed show, and sing songs from Disney films,” advised Paulson. “We’ll learn a few sacred songs, and other songs, so that we have  a total mix of performance music, and then we’ll be available to entertain. It’s going to be fun.”
Paulson added that they want anyone involved who wants to sing, and they’ll take everyone who is available.
“There’s no cap to the number of people that want to be in the choir. If we don’t fit in a space, we’ll draw straws to see who sings. We would love to visit other churches of our members. If they’re having an evening event, or if enough of us are available on a Sunday morning, we could do that. We are going to be as flexible as possible, and the music that we perform will be of interest to pretty much every age, I think the choir singers should be at least 12 years of age, and we’ll take singers up to 112 years of age,” commented Paulson.
Beyond just members for the choir, there’s one other person that Paulson would be pleased to recruit.
“We need a rehearsal pianist. We’re going to perform with recorded tracks, so that we don’t have to take a keyboard and all the accoutrements to the square for tree lighting and stuff. So at first, we’ll be using recorded accompaniments, and then we’ll see what we get, and what we can handle, and what our performance spaces allow, but we desperately need a rehearsal accompanist,” Paulson explained.
As has been noted, another thing the choir is flexible on is the singer’s experience.
“You don’t need choir experience, you don’t need to read music. There are no requirements. If you want to sing, we want you in it.  This is more for the unity than the precise performance aspects. The quality of musicianship is not determining the membership,” Paulson said. “People with experience have mentioned that they are very interested, and people who’ve never been in a choir have said, I’d like to join.
They don’t need any background in choir. We will all mentor each other.  Sometimes it’ll be about the music, sometimes it’ll be about the stress of their day. Sometimes it’ll be about the pace that we all try to keep up with. I think it’s going to be a real support group and full of music. There will be no audition requirements or any audition process.”
Paulson, who formerly lived in Arizona, will be bringing experience to her role as the director.
“I had a citywide show choir, and I was in a lot of choirs. I toured with the Norman Luboff Choir a few decades ago. The older generations might remember that name. Being in a choir is just a special opportunity. It’s like being in a play or being on a football team. Everybody is working towards the same goal, and whatever talents you possess, you bring them and offer them, and the result is amazing,” commented Paulson.
Also, she said there will be no costume requirements, and no fees for participation. People only need to bring their voices. They would love some outside donations for a few other things.
“Music is expensive, and there is no formal budget for this, so any contributions would be appreciated. Those donations aren’t needed immediately either, they are welcome to wait and see how it turns out first before making a donation, Even if we have to fund it ourselves, this is going to happen, but any help is beneficial and would be appreciated,” Paulson stated.
Paulson reiterated that even if you don’t have the strongest voice, you should give the choir a try.
“I’m hoping that there will be dozens and dozens of singers, so we are all going to blend together. It’s not a solo performance for anyone at this point. We may grow into small groups and solo opportunities and stuff, but right now, while we’re getting to know each other and getting to know the program, we’re all just going to sing together and have a hoot. Some of the songs are almost funny, some are heartfelt, some are real toe-tappers. We’re going to have all kinds of music, and all kinds of opportunities.”
The regular meeting time will be from 5:30 to 6:30 every Thursday beginning Oct. 2. Perfect attendance is not a requirement.
“If some people have to miss an occasional rehearsal, that’s okay, that’s life. Hopefully, the people who join will be pretty committed to the group, but it’s not a regimented program in any way. It’s flexible. People have lives, and we may decide to tweak it as we go, and that’s fine. It’s very informal. We’re going to meet in the sanctuary of the Red Oak First United Methodist Church at 600 E. Hammond St. Some people know that as above the Second Chance Thrift Store,” Paulson joked.
Paulson described the thing she’s most looking forward to in bringing this choir to fruition.
“I’m looking forward to the relationships. This church is really big on relationships, so it’s just going be one more facet of what we do, and I’m very excited about that. Our thrift store volunteers and customers are a huge family. I mean, for many of us who spend time there, that’s our happy place, and that’s what I see the choir as becoming. It’s a place where, on a Thursday, even if you start out thinking, I don’t have time to go to practice tonight, after you go, and as you leave, you’re going be thinking, that you’re glad you decided to go to practice after all,” explained Paulson.
VanNostrand agreed with Paulson that she felt music is a great unifier.
“It can unify so many different people, demographically, politically, socially, economically, spiritually; any of those kind of boundaries that we put on ourselves. Music can be a unifier and is a language for all. Everybody understands music and can be moved by music, and so I think that that is something that we, as a church and as individuals, Christ followers, I think we need to encourage that because as Holly said, in such a divisive time that we are living in, music can really unify people, and I think that that is a priority in this time. I think that this choir will not only be fun and exciting, but also soothing to the soul, and that’s never a bad thing. So, we have huge hopes for it,” advised VanNostrand.
Lastly, Paulson said the choir isn’t limited just to Red Oak residents.
“If residents of other towns are in Red Oak on a Thursday evening or want to come to Red Oak, they’re welcome to. This is an area wide choir,” Paulson said.
Anyone with questions can call 602-403-1889, and everyone is invited to the first practice. beginning at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 2.