A musical return to Magnolia

​By Arthur Day, Bass, Magnolia Chorale since 2023

---

​Someday I hope to have Magnolia Chorale stories and memories to match veteran Nancy Reeder’s (see previous blog). I’m only in my second session with Magnolia Chorale, but my first session leading up to the December concerts was really fun. I think we all brought our “A” game when we realized we had some terrific classical musicians coming in to complete our sound. I’ll call that Great Memory #1.

Before last fall, I hadn’t sung with a choir in Magnolia since the eighth grade. Then, I was a student at Catharine Blaine Junior High School (time stamp: late 20th century). It’s been a while! We’ve lived elsewhere and only arrived back in Magnolia in 2017. I’ve been an instrumentalist in bands off and on since my youth, but I mostly left the singing to the more naturally gifted.

My wife Nancy joined a north-end chorus several years ago at the invitation of a friend, and the fun was so apparent that pretty soon I was talking with its director. Basses were needed, and I was in. I learned a lot from that director over a few years, but then discovered that Magnolia has a great choir and director of its own. Somehow a transfer was arranged, and here I am.

Singing with Magnolia Chorale is a great way to meet more of my neighbors, and I don’t have to cross the Ballard Bridge—hooray for that! Musically, things that were difficult have gotten easier, and I’ve been slowly learning to listen to those around me. It’s amazing how good our voices sound when we are blending together. Now, when non-choristers tell me that they “can’t sing”, I try to assure them that all they really need to get started is the desire. A bit of focus and commitment, and an encouraging environment, will do the rest.

I’ve read that group singing is good for one’s health, and even as a new member I get the feeling that our Chorale is a very healthy group. It has strength in all of its sections. It has grown with the addition of both younger and older singers. The repertoire is beautiful but challenging. We’re also fortunate to have a high-functioning board of directors and a very talented and energetic director, Joseph To.
​
I know that we’ll be sounding great on May 4 and 5 when I get to perform in my first spring concerts with Magnolia Chorale to celebrate its 35th Anniversary.

---