Harmony 207, Windham’s all women’s acapella chorus, is celebrating incorporating with international non-profit Harmony, Incorporated and looking forward to meeting with members of the community at upcoming holiday events.
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| Members of Harmony 207, Windham's all women's acapella chorus, gather after a rehearsal in the Sanctuary of Windham Hill UCC Church on Nov. 3. The singers are preparing for holiday concerts and are celebrating incorporating with international non-profit Harmony Incorporated. COURTESY PHOTO |
“My original goal was to have the chorus charter in 2027, but we took advantage of prorated dues with Harmony, Inc., got our paperwork in order and applied to Charter in October,” she said, noting that joining the larger organization helps give the group access to its non-profit status and library of resources. “The more exciting part, on Nov. 3, was presenting the new member packets to 14 of our 15 new members.”
The charter process complete, the group can now entirely focus on their busy schedule of performances throughout December.
Harmony 207 will start their slate of holiday performances on with a preview concert, to be held at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, located at 40 Windham Center Road, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
“We will be doing the whole show (45 minutes),” Dyer said. “One of our members asked if they might have a concert there during the holidays, and we didn't want to add to the weekend busyness” so will hold the concert during their normal rehearsal time.
“Another of our members asked if we might participate in the Festival of Trees, like a flash mob,” Dyer explained. “We will sing three songs, stroll around and 20 minutes, sing again, and 20 minutes later sing again (we'll be there about an hour).”
“We'll be able to pass out invitations for women to come sing, as well as talk up the concert on Dec. 12,” she said.
The group’s solo concert will be held at the Windham Hill UCC Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, featuring 10 songs performed by the women in four-part acapella harmony. The concert has been the focal point for their rehearsals in the six months since the chorus’s forming.
“That concert was our goal - we will rehearse on Tuesday evenings in Fellowship Hall, and perform a concert during the holidays,” Dyer said, noting that the group arranged with the church to use their facility free of charge to rehearse in exchange for the event. “The church will collect donations and allocate to a church program.”
Finally, the group will perform at The Church of Latter Days Saints’ free community concert, located at 755 River Road, on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Each show will also contain an audience participation section, so those planning to attend should warm up beforehand as the chorus will teach attendees parts before leading them to sing the song.
“We have a song in our repertoire that wasn't a Christmas Song, but it was taught at our inaugural meeting on May 5,” Dyer said, adding that the melody will sound familiar, but the verses have been rewritten. “It’s a cute song, and an opportunity to invite any women who play along to come join us.”
Once the final performance is completed, rehearsals will halt for the holiday season.
“We will take a break for the rest of December, so that we can enjoy the holidays with families and friends” Dyer explained. “The Music Team (4 section leaders and director) will meet to talk about music to learn starting in January.”
“January 5, we were planning a ‘welcome back’ potluck, and will make it our charter party,” she said. “Harmony Incorporated’s International President will attend the meeting to help celebrate the charter with the members.”
The chorus is still accepting new members and is hoping to connect with some women who recently posted on Facebook about wanting to join a singing group in the area.
“We’ve heard from three people that they were looking for a place to sing, and in Windham, we’re the only group of women,” Dyer said, noting that the group will soon number 23 after being founded in May.
Harmony, Incorporated, an organization of 2,000 women and more than 65 chapter choruses in the United States and Canada, was founded in 1959 and hosts area and international competitions and provides educational resources for its membership, including a library of music and arrangements in four-part harmony.
“There are five of us who were already members of Harmony, Inc. Choruses and know that audiences will love the four-part harmonies in all of their imperfections – perfection isn't the goal,” Dyer said. “Sharing the joy of singing 4-part a cappella music with women they have grown to care about is the goal.”
For more details about Harmony 207, visit the group’s Facebook page, Harmony 207 Windham, Maine. Rehearsals are held at the Windham Hill UCC Church from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. <
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