Bloomington Peace Choir brings community together in song

On the first Tuesday of every month, the City Hall Atrium echoes with the sounds of ukuleles strumming and voices singing folk songs of Israel and Africa. 

The Bloomington Peace Choir is singing at its Bloomington Sings Sing-a-Long Lunch Hour at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, where members of the community are invited to join group members in song.

Music director Barb Qualls leads the group, occasionally accompanied by her piano or ukulele. She calls off the songs from a list, but as group members request alternate songs be sung, she changes up her plans.

Members who walk in after the 11:30 a.m. call time are still welcomed with open arms.
“Come on in,” Qualls said. “We need your voices this morning.”

The group has been in place for more than three years, founded by Kat Domingo, who passed away in 2011 after a battle with breast cancer.

Group president Leah Savion said the group takes pride in the fact that there is no religious or political affiliation, just a desire to sing.

“I think that the group is unique in that it’s a community base,” she said. “We stand on our own, and we make our own choices.”

The group recruits through public exposure and advertisements, but Savion said the primary way they attract new members is through public performances.

“Once you see us on stage and see how much fun we have, it’s really hard to resist,” she said.

Recently, the group has performed frequently throughout Bloomington,
including several performances at Third Street Park and the Fourth Street Festival.

The group selects a variety of spiritual music from around the world, including Israel, Africa, Spain and Liberia. Qualls then arranges the music to fit the skill sets of group members.

“Barb is incredibly musical,” Savion said. “She takes a song and arranges it so that it’s our level and maybe pushes us a little bit. It turns out fantastic.”

In addition to an eclectic selection of music, the group itself is also made up of many demographics. Savion said the group has members young and old who work in a number of professional fields, including carpentry, mail delivery and education.

Barbara Fisher, a relatively new member of the group who began singing with the Peace Choir at the beginning of the Spring 2013 semester, said she loves what the group has added to her life.

“Personally, it lifts my spirits,” she said. “I feel love from all these people. It brings me joy.”

Savion said the group is always accepting new members, and those interested should not be shy about attending any of the group’s weekly Wednesday rehearsals at Unity Church.

“The fact that you don’t need to audition makes everyone feel very welcome,” she said. “We just manage to use voices, whatever they’re capable of doing.

“People may not know what singing does to your body and mind, but it really generates the right neurotransmitters in the brain. It’s a terrific replacement for drinking or drugs.”

Follow arts editor Carolyn Crowcroft on Twitter @carol_crowcroft.