Where to celebrate World Singing Day in Marin

Scott Johnson imagines uniting the entire world with a common language: the language of singing.

That’s why the Boulder man started World Singing Day in 2012. It took him a few years to incorporate as a nonprofit and get the momentum rolling.

On Saturday, people from around the world will gather and sing songs in honor of the day.

He knows groups will be participating in New Zealand, Australia, Senegal, the Philippines, India, Canada, Europe and the United States. Don’t worry, Marin will join in on the fun, too, starting with the Sing! Marin event from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Marin Country Mart followed by the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, a premier showcase of vocal harmony music, at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael. Get tickets for the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival ($38.50 to $69) at tickets.marincenter.org.

“One of the great pleasures of my work is when I’m backstage and seeing the joy on the faces of the singers as they exit the stage after a performance. They positively glow,” says John Neal, the  producer of Sing! Marin and the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival.

Some of the participants in this year’ Sing! Marin event include the Marin Barbershop Chorus; Marin Girls Chorus; Lighthouse Singers Gospel Choir; Rita and the Cosmos; Marin Men’s Chorus; Joyful Voices Chorus; College of Marin Vocal Jazz; Mayflower Chorus; and Marin Harmony. Admission is free. For more information, go to sing-marin.com.

“There are a number of singing groups in Marin County. Sing! Marin is extraordinary in that it brings many of these divergent groups together for a group sing-along and then an opportunity for each group to perform before a large audience. It is a joy for performers and audience alike,” says Thomas H. Cromwell, the general manager of the Marin Men’s Chorus.

Paul Goldsmith, a member of the Marin Barbershop Chorus, says there’s a “special joy” that comes from singing with others.

“Harmony describes this music on many levels,” he says. “There is a sincere connection that comes when you are singing with fellow human beings. You are doing something you enjoy and others enjoy at the same time. Singing together always makes everyone happy. And it helps you stay sane.”

For Gretchen Klein, a member of the Mayflower Chorus, getting together to sing with others is a highlight of her week.

“Both the camaraderie and having a creative outlet is inspiring and brings me such joy,” she says.

Making connections

Johnson, who has been writing songs since he was a teenager, says he has always enjoyed music with a positive message. In 2003, he founded the Positive Music Association, which promotes music and artists with positive, universal, inclusive lyrics.

World Singing Day expands on that intention.

“I thought, let’s open it up to everybody, and let’s just sing our way to where we can all see ourselves as fellow human beings instead of focusing on what we don’t share in common,” Johnson says.

It’s a message that resonates with Marv Zauderer, the director of Joyful Voices Chorus.

“Singing is a crucial part of the social infrastructure of our communities — as important as roads and bridges, for so many of us, for our feelings of connectedness, belonging, and well-being,” he says.

No singing experience or ability is necessary to participate in World Singing Day, Johnson underscores.

“It’s not about great singing. Come, even if you don’t consider yourself a singer. Actually, those are the people I want to come most,” he says. “I love the simple elegance of the idea of using the international language of music, and using your own voices.”

Johnson says he hopes next year to coordinate a live video stream of people singing in different countries around the world. Eventually, he envisions a “global singing wave,” starting in New Zealand. He imagines people in different countries singing at a specific time and then passing it off to people in the time zone west of them, for a full 24 hours until the day is done.

“I have sung in choirs most of my life because I love being enveloped by sound and the diverse voices around me. It lifts my spirit, relieves stress, and helps me really listen to others to ensure I am in tune. It’s great exercise for my brain and vocal muscles and I love the feeling of being a part of a larger team effort. It’s so rewarding to work hard on a repertoire and then perform it well to appreciative audiences,” says Kim Weichel, of the Marin Harmony Chorus.

Originally Published: October 17, 2024 at 12:45 p.m.