April 17, 2012

You might find it a little odd that I’m starting an article about ArtsWave and a Choir Festival with the “Taxman” song, but then again, everyone knows that the Tax Man cometh so we might as well get by with a wonderful tune from the Beatles.

SoundsSuits at the Taft Museum; photo by Mikki Schaffner

Ok, onwards and upwards. This coming Saturday, ArtsWave is proud to announce a bonus Macy’s Arts Sampler event, The Great Sampler Sing-Along, featuring the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus at the Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church. The event highlights the long history of choral singing in Cincinnati, and one might say is a good “warm up” to the upcoming World Choir Games being hosted in Cincinnati this July.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, ArtsWave, formerly the Fine Arts Fund, supports and collaborates with over 100 local arts organizations. “Through funding, shared services, and capacity building, ArtsWave helps create the kind of thriving arts scene that makes Cincinnati an amazing place to live,” explained Rebecca Bromels, Director of Communications at ArtsWave.

From the popularity of shows like American Idol, The Voice (can’t say I’ve ever seen it though), and Glee, it’s become clear that America likes to sing, or at least we like to hear people who can sing. While I’m tone deaf and can’t play an instrument to save my life, I can still appreciate great music, and thus I encourage you to do the same.

Splash Dance on Fountain Square (2010); photo by Scott Beseler

The Sing Along starts at noon, so grab a friend, the family, and enjoy a free concert. It’s not everyday you get to work on a railroad just to pass the time away. If you didn’t get that, then you definitely need to attend, simply to be brought up to speed on your American folk song history.

Now Dinah blow your horn!

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