Welcome to Joyful Noise!
Joyful Noise is a chorus of adults with physical and neurological challenges who live in southern New Jersey. The chorus, hosted by Bancroft NeuroHealth, currently has thirty members, ages 20-65. Formed in 2000, Joyful Noise has given more than fifty performances in New Jersey and Philadelphia and has shared concerts with the Harmonium Outreach Chorus, The Western Wind Ensemble, and Alice Parker. With funding from the Philadelphia Eagles Community Quarterback program, Joyful Noise is commissioning seven new works by composers Chester Alwes, James Bassi, Gerald Cohen, Elliot Levine, Alice Parker, Steven Sametz, and Jon Washburn.
Joyful Noise Invited to Perform in Singing City’s “Voices of Philadelphia” Concert
By Jan L. Apple
Joyful Noise will perform in Singing City’s “Voices of Philadelphia” annual Youth and Family Concert on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at 7 p.m. at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square. Singing City, a Philadelphia choral group in its 62nd season, has a mission of “uniting diverse peoples through choral arts.” Two other guest choirs will also be featured:Chester Children Chorus and Northeast High School Concert Choir.
Jeffrey Brillhart, Singing City’s Music Director, first heard Joyful Noise sing last June at Chorus America’s annual conference in Philadelphia. “I had never heard of a choir that was created for adults with special needs,” said Jeffrey. “Within a minute, I was overcome with emotion. The exuberance that everyone sang with and the love that they generated was unlike anything else I had ever experienced before from a choir. The title of the group completely captured what was going on there.”
Jeffrey felt an affinity with the singers because he has an adult sister with special needs. Julie, 52, who lives in Iowa where they grew up, sings weekly in a church choir. “I know how incredibly important music is to her,” stated Jeffrey. “That one hour of rehearsal is the highlight of her week.”
Captivated by Joyful Noise’s performance, Jeffrey contacted Music Director Allison Fromm, and invited the group to join Singing City’s annual youth and family concert. Allison was excited and encouraged by Jeffrey's invitation. “I want people to know that a chorus like ours exists and how powerfully members can connect with their audiences,” she said.
After Jeffrey mentioned that he and his sister had never performed in a concert together, Allison asked him whether Julie would like to participate in the concert with Joyful Noise. Jeffrey will be flying his sister to Philadelphia to rehearse and perform with Joyful Noise. Allison sent music and recordings so she can practice at home in Iowa. “She is delirious with excitement,” Jeffrey said. “This is truly a dream.”
With a Philadelphia Eagles grant, Joyful Noise has commissioned nine original pieces by highly regarded composers. The group will perform four of these pieces in Singing City’s concert. The concert finale will feature all four choirs singing Steven Sametz’s “Bonse Aba (All Children Sing!),” composed for Joyful Noise to premiere at the Chorus America conference. Members are thrilled to be performing one of their favorite pieces with more than 200 singers.
Tickets for the “Voices of Philadelphia” concert are $20 general admission; $15 for seniors/students. Tickets may be purchased at the door – Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square, 1904 Walnut Street – or at www.singingcity.org.
For more information, contact Nancy Longo.
Joyful Noise to Perform for Chorus America in Philadelphia
By Wendy Siegel
Enthusiasm fills the Flicker Center on Tuesday evenings, as Joyful Noise prepares for its very exciting June 11 performance in Philadelphia at the 32nd Annual Conference of Chorus America. The gathering of this organization of more than 1,600 members from North and South America will offer conductors, arts administrators, singers, music business executives, and choral music lovers the chance to see and listen to our Joyful Noise. Since the goal of Chorus America is “….building a dynamic and inclusive choral community so that more people are transformed by the beauty and power of choral singing,” it is a perfect venue for what our singers do so well. We anticipate that Joyful Noise will transform a lot of musicians that day!
The chorus will sing in a workshop entitled Commissioning for the “Exceptional” Chorus: Building Connections via New Works for a Choir with Neurological and Related Disabilities. Allison has asked several noted composers to share their process of creating simple and well-crafted pieces that resonate with both the chorus and its audience. Each composer will lead Joyful Noise in a short new piece and will engage the audience in singing along. Alice Parker has composed an exquisite and very moving lullaby for the event; our own Rob Kennan has crafted a special song about emotions, entitled “Do You Understand?”; Edie Hill has created a delightful ode, “We Sing with Heartfelt Joy!”; and Steven Sametz has set to music “Bonse aba (All Children Sing!),” a traditional Zambian text, to be accompanied by marimba & percussion.
As you can imagine, extra expenses are involved which neither Chorus America nor Bancroft is able to subsidize (commissioned works, guest conductors, transportation, video conferencing services, meals, etc.). Although our annual fundraising appeal will be sent in the fall, we hope that this extraordinary opportunity to sing at a prestigious national convention will inspire our supporters to help defray the costs. Contributions of any amount are needed and will be most gratefully received. Please send checks made payable to Joyful Noise to:
Christine Dwyer, Treasurer
Joyful Noise
17 Springbrook Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
The Conference will be held in Philadelphia, June 10-13 at the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing. For conference and location information:
Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing
Fund Drive Update
Updated May 27, 2009
By Christine Dwyer, Co-Treasurer
In December Joyful Noise launched its 2008-2009 Fund Drive. In this challenging economic time, many people are reducing their spending and being cautious about their charitable contributions. Yet Joyful Noise continues to receive gifts from current and new donors. In response to our December letter, 67 individuals and businesses have contributed $8,345.00. Thank you!
Despite the economy, Joyful Noise hopes to approach last year’s success, when more than 100 contributors gave over $17,000. Our upcoming appearance at the Chorus America Annual Conference in Philadelphia is truly a momentous opportunity, which promises to be memorable for our members. As noted above, we will deeply appreciate contributions of any amount to help offset the expenses of this wonderful event!
On a Mission to Inspire
Alice Parker and the Joyful Noise Chorus
This season, Joyful Noise has initiated a Mission to Inspire to bring their joy of singing to conductors, music therapists and educators from the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.
The American Choral Directors Association has invited Joyful Noise to appear at the Eastern Regional Convention in Hartford, Connecticut on February 16, 2008, when members will demonstrate their learning process for conductors from throughout the region. Renowned composer, conductor, and song leader, Alice Parker, who led Joyful Noise in their Melodious Memories concert in June 2004, will once again join Joyful Noise for an interest session entitled, Melodies that Sing: We Love to Sing this Song. Joyful Noise Director, Allison Fromm, explained, "We hope that our singing will inspire musicians in other states to launch similar ensembles and enrich the lives of people with disabilities in their own communities."
Next Event
- 10th Anniversary Gala: Singing From the Heart Choral Festival
led by Nick Page
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
@ 6:30 PM
Katz Jewish Community Center
Cherry, Hill, NJ - More…
Recent News
Joyful Noise will perform in Singing City’s “Voices of Philadelphia”
Joyful Noise to Perform for Chorus America in Philadelphia
Joyful Noise Performs for Governor Corzine
Celebrating Bancroft in Delaware: Bancroft's 125th Anniversary Songbook
