Wednesday, November 13, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Celebrate community through song
By Sue Stafford
Correspondent
Do you belt out songs
in the shower, your car, or
out on the trail? Or do you
never sing because your
fourth-grade teacher said you
couldn9t carry a tune? Maybe
you are a very experienced
singer and/or musician look-
ing for other voices.
Whatever label you have
put on yourself, remove it
and come to The Belfry on
Friday night, November 22,
to join in a community sing,
where your voice will join
with others to create beauti-
ful spirited music.
Eight local organizations
have collaborated to bring
the leaders and musicians of
the Portland-based Low Bar
Chorale to Sisters to create
a celebration of community
through song. With finan-
cial support from the Ford
Family Foundation, The
Roundhouse Foundation,
St. Charles Health System,
and Sisters Folk Festival,
along with organization by
Citizens4Community, The
Belfry, Age Friendly Sisters
Country, and Sisters Park and
Recreation District, the eve-
ning of stress-free fun, while
connecting with others, is for
singers and non-singers of all
ages and abilities.
The free event, which
offers two hours of good
cheer and singing with
gusto, begins at 7:30 p.m.
at The Belfry, 302 E. Main
Avenue. Start the evening at
the Sisters Fourth Friday Art
Stroll and then move on to
The Belfry. Beginning at 6:30
p.m., an hour before singing
begins, there will be food
and drink options available
for purchase. Complimentary
snacks and water will also be
provided.
The music for the evening
PHOTO PROVIDED
Portland-based Low Bar Chorale is coming to Sisters to lead a community
singing event November 22.
will include pop, rock, and
alt indie songs from the mid-
70s to today. The organizers
choose songs with great har-
monies, and the occasional
fist-pumping power ballad.
No ability to read music is
needed as songs are learned
<by ear.=
The Low Bar Chorale
was created in March 2016
by Portland9s Kate Sokoloff
and Ben Landsverk and is
backed by a band of profes-
sional touring musicians who
play with Blind Pilot, Brandi
Carlisle, Pink Martini, and
other well-known groups.
Landsverk, the Chorale9s
music director and arranger,
began a life filled with music
as a child. As an undergradu-
ate at Yale University he
directed the Whiffenpoofs,
one of the oldest and most
well-known collegiate a cap-
pella groups. After college,
he got his start as a conduc-
tor at Wilson High School in
Portland. He also produces
music in the band Wonderly,
scoring for films and creating
songs for podcasts like The
New York Times9 The Daily.
Sokoloff, a brand strate-
gist, is the Chorale9s cre-
ative director and marketing
manager. She also founded
Live Wire, a show which cur-
rently airs on OPB. She grew
up singing folk songs with
her family, performing in
school choirs, and in several
musicals.
The motto for Low Bar
Chorale is <We9re just OK,=
reflecting its no-audition,
no-commitment approach to
singing with a group. With
each session backed by pro-
fessional musicians, the
Chorale sounds much bet-
ter than <just OK.= The only
requirement to participate is a
desire to sing.
In Portland, people gather
twice a month at Revolution
Hall (the former Washington
High School) for libations
and singing an ever-chang-
ing lineup of hits. They also
put on larger events, like an
annual holiday singalong, a
yearly Jesus Christ Superstar
bash, and last summer9s
See SING SISTERS on page 13
Self-defense fundraiser
to aid Sisters family
A fundraiser self-defense
class for the Rich Hummel
family will be held Saturday,
November 16 at 10 a.m., at
Sweat PNW, 392 W. Main Ave.
Hummel went in for a rou-
tine inguinal hernia surgery in
October, but his recovery did
not go as expected. He was
taken back to the hospital,
where it was discovered that
he had a small perforation in
his colon, leading to an infec-
tion in his abdomen. Due to
complications he was taken
back in for a second, then a
third surgery. His wife, Beth,
spent three weeks with him in
the hospital and both of their
jobs were put on hold.
<The ultimate mission of
Sweat PNW is to help sup-
port the community by offer-
ing monthly fundraising
events at the gym,= said gym
owner Ashlee Francis. <Rich
and Beth are the first to offer
their support and help for oth-
ers in need. They are a very
important and special part of
the Sisters community. This
is an opportunity for us to
come together and give back
to them in their time of need.=
The fundraiser will be a
two-hour self-defense class
led by Sherri Hermens.
Twenty-two years ago, Sherri
started taking taekwondo with
her children to help build
character and self-esteem. Her
zeal for the practice expanded
and she became certified and
began teaching taekwondo
and self-defense in Central
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541-549-9631
7
Oregon. She has become very
passionate about <giving sim-
ple tools to others to increase
self-awareness and, if need
be, defend themselves.= Her
approach to teaching is very
hands-on.
<Everyone will be practic-
ing what they learn,= Hermens
said about the class. <Self-
defense is usually targeted
towards just women. I do feel
there are important things
in this class for men as well.
After all, women are not the
only people who get targeted.=
<Please join us this
Saturday for an opportunity
to add to your tool belt while
giving back to the Hummels,=
Francis said.
Class size is limited to 15
people, but you don9t have
to attend to contribute to the
fundraiser. Donations can be
made at Sweat PNW or Green
Ridge Physical Therapy. Sign
up online at www.sweatpnw.
com. Email Ashlee Francis
with any questions about the
event or future fundraisers at
hello@sweatpnw.com.
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