Ruvara Marimba at Elizabeth Park on July 12!

"Ruvara Marimba" is playing at Elizabeth Park July 12 from 6-8pm, and we're playing/singing "Shosholoza", and plan to encourage children to be part of the "choo choo train". We'd greatly appreciate any BUF choir members who can join us to sing along!

We plan to play the song during the first half of our concert, so be sure to arrive by 6:15pm the very latest if you want to sing.  In case you need a refresher on the lyrics, here they are:

Shosholoza---Kulezontaba---Stimela S’Phume Zimbabwe
(Translation:  I come from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Bellingham, etc).
Wenu yo Baleka----Kulezontaba---Stimela S’Phume Zimbabwe
(They run away because they hear the work is so hard).

concert on Saturday - Musekiwa Chingodza - legendary Zimbabwean mbira (thumb piano) player

You’re invited to a unique house concert at the home of Nancy and Rick Steele, 2821 Cody Ave., Bellingham, on Saturday, June 23 from 7-9pm featuring special guest Musekiwa Chingodza, a legendary Zimbabwean mbira (thumb piano) player/teacher who is currently touring the U.S, and will teach and perform at the Zimbabwean Music Festival in Moscow, Idaho Aug. 2-5.

This year, Musekiwa has participated in university presentations (lectures and demonstrations) at such prestigious colleges as the University of Cincinnati (Ohio); Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY); Pomona College (Los Angeles, CA) and the University of Oregon (Eugene).
Julie Ishihara—a long-time member of the Bellingham Zimbabwean music community—will accompany Musekiwa on hosho (dried gourd shakers). A minimum $5 donation is requested. Info: nancy@ruvara.org or 920-6494.

Musekiwa Chingodza was born into a family of great mbira players in Mwangara village, Murewa, Zimbabwe, in 1970. Surrounded by gwenyambira, or great mbira players, he began playing mbira at the age of five and is self-taught. In 1991 Musekiwa was a key member of the band Panjea, founded by Chris Berry. He composed the hit song “Ganda” on Panjea’s Zimbabwean album. He formerly taught mbira at Prince Edward School in Harare for many years, and continues to be in demand to play mbira at ceremonies in Zimbabwe. He is an excellent singer, dancer and ngoma drummer in the Shona tradition and plays both mbira dzavadzimu and nyunga nyunga. Following up on his widely acclaimed CD with Jennifer Kyker, entitled Tsunga, Musekiwa released his CD VaChingodza Budai Pachena, his solo CD, Kutema Musasa, a second collaboration with Jennifer Kyker, Muronda Tsimba, and his latest with Bud Cohen, Tomutenda Mambo.

details about this Sunday's service

Some reminders about the what, when, and where for this Sunday.

• dress: black pants or skirt, white top with choir stoles
• 9:10: arrive a little early for Doug's brunch if you want a chance to have a bite to eat and visit with Doug before the choir gathers for a quick rehearsal
• 9:45: meet in sanctuary for choir rehearsal - other musical groups will be meeting and rehearsing, too. Men - grab a gray stole, women - grab a shimmery stole
• 10:30: take a deep breath and remember we will be the voices expressing what the congregation is feeling as Doug leaves. A lot of emotions will be filling the room and we can let that help us make something beautiful and powerful.

Wednesday Choir rehearsals this week and next!

Just a quick reminder that there will be choir rehearsal on Wednesday the 6th and Wednesday the 13th at 7:00. We will be practicing a piece to sing for his final service on June 17th. Anyone who can make it please do...it's our last chance to sing for Doug - let's make it beautiful and memorable.

reminder about June 10 workshop with Fabiana Katz

"Come Explore your Natural Voice," a workshop for male and female adult singers featuring Fabiana Katz, a renowned vocal coach and soloist from Vancouver, B.C., will be offered Sunday, June 10 from 2-5 p.m. at Jerns Funeral Chapel.

"My approach is holistic and organic," Ms. Katz wrote in her website. "Singing is not for a 'lucky few. It's our privilege and and right as human beings..."

The workshop will cover breath control, posture, use of resonance, voice placement, vowel matching and muscular control.

It is sponsored by the Bellingham Threshold Singers, a non-profit, a cappella women's group which sings at bedsides of chronically ill or dying persons, and the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Choir.
Jerns Funeral Chapel is at 800 E. Sunset Dr., at James Street.  A suggested donation of $8-12 will be asked for at the door.

For further information, bellinghamthresholdsingers.org,360-927-4384 or http://www.fabianakatz.ca/ or http://www.teachmetosing.ca/

choir BBQ thank you

A big thank you to Ann Stevenson for hosting the end of the year Choir BBQ. It takes a lot of planning and effort and we do appreciate it! It rained on us a bit [as you can see from the photos below], but it didn't stop us from having a good time.

Look forward to seeing you all next Wednesday as we rehearse for Doug's last service.

Sunday details...and a little inspiration...

Greetings choirsters! Here are some quick reminders about Sundays performance.

• 9:15: Chamber rehersal begins
• 9:30: Choir rehersal begins
• Dress: something "shimmery" - I'm certain we'll look amazing!

Also....below is a link to a video for a little inspiration provided by Libby Skinner. She says her friend DanVo'Nique is the third from the left in the front row. Gospelfest 2012! Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abhW-Zrn22s&sns=fb