Everybody Sing announces its spring program

Everybody Sing, the local community choir that welcomes everyone to join them with no fees and no audition, announced its upcoming program featuring new and rarely-performed works.

Everybody Sing’s director, Rick Whitaker, spoke of the one-year-old choral group’s progress since he founded it in February 2024. “This scrappy choir amazes me,” he said. “With members from so many backgrounds and levels of experience—from absolute beginners to professional musicians—the choir has grown and evolved in so many fascinating ways. I couldn’t be prouder.”

For their next concert they plan to perform a new composition by Mr Whitaker, a setting of a Zen blessing before meals; a rarity from the 1920s that’s never been recorded; and an unusual arrangement of nine children’s songs by the eccentric French composer Erik Satie (1866-1925), among other songs.

“We’re very lucky to be working with the accompanist pianist Felicity Howlett, who plays beautifully and is a first-rate partner,” Whitaker said. “And several distinguished members have joined our board, including the Juilliard adult division student Beverly Brooks, who is a sister of the renowned composer Pamela Z; the composer William Delp, who also serves as our production manager; the former NYC school teacher Rita Loughlin; and the director of Arts and Minds, Carolyn Halpin-Healy.”

The charitable organization, which rehearses in the ornate theater in Columbia University’s Casa Italiana, where Whitaker has worked full-time for nearly 25 years, was the main focus of an article in the NY Post in February.

Everybody Sing is open to anyone who wishes to sing with them, with no fees and no auditions.

The group occasionally invites guests who speak to and help rehearse the choir. Soprano Lucy Shelton joined them recently and talked to the choir members about her upcoming Metropolitan Opera debut--at the age of 82. The author Stacy Horn will visit the rehearsal session on April 22 to discuss her 2013 book Imperfect Harmony: Finding Happiness Singing with Others.

Everybody Sing practices every Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8 pm. They perform in casual venues in Harlem and the Upper West Side and they’re available for special occasions and events. For details see their website: EverybodySingNYC.com.

All are welcome to join them for any Tuesday evening rehearsal.