Do you love to sing but don’t want the spotlight? Check out the East Bay Musical Society and its Broadway Chorus. This non-auditioned community choir was formed a few years ago to bring together Tri-Valley folks who enjoy singing pieces from stage and screen musicals.
“We welcome singers of all abilities and make rehearsals upbeat, challenging and fun because singing is meaningful play,” said Music Director Jed da Roza, a professional vocal coach and conductor with 20 years of experience.
Broadway Chorus has just opened registration to sing in this year’s spring concert in Livermore. Its two divisions — general and youth, for under age 14 — will meet every Thursday evening for 12 weeks beginning Feb. 10, and the rehearsals will culminate in a performance or two during the weekend of May 14.
“I’m thrilled to share my love for nature and music through the Broadway Chorus Spring 2022 Concert,” da Roza said.
The East Bay Musical Society was formed in 2019, just after Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre disbanded its community chorus.
“At the end of 2018, they dissolved the chorus but all of us wanted to keep singing,” said member Dan Floyd of Livermore. “We had a meeting at someone’s house and formed the East Bay Musical Society from that group.”
“Since then it’s been word of mouth,” he added. “We tell friends, we tell family, we tell co-workers.”
Chorus members are mainly from Pleasanton and Livermore, he said, but a few come from as far as Danville. Floyd emphasized how welcoming the group is, and noted that the commitment is not onerous.
“We have one practice a week for 10-12 weeks twice a year,” he said, leading up to the performances.
Floyd emphasized that anyone can sing.
“The only barrier is whether they want to,” he said. “And Jed da Roza is very good at helping people find ways to improve. We like to say we’re the cheapest vocal lessons you can find.”
“One of the benefits of having a group chorus is that it is easy to show up and not be center stage. You can take a seat and not be singled out,” Floyd also noted. “There’s just so much joy that comes from getting together with people and singing.”
He said the members appreciate singing together even more after the pandemic put a halt to everything, including canceling their show, in spring 2020.
During lockdown they began to stream and make recordings of the rehearsals so people could observe the voice lessons and the singing although they could not be heard. This also helps members who travel for work so they do not fall behind.
Performances resumed with a show in fall 2021, titled “Tragedy & Triumph.”
And now chorus members are ready to show up in person again.
“Now being together, it’s almost a form of therapy,” Floyd said. “It’s nice to have it back — and it’s cheaper than therapy as well.”
The members wear masks as they arrive but when the signing begins only a few keep them on, Floyd said, and they practice social distancing.
“We spread out and fill up the room,” he said.
Register to join the Broadway Chorus at www.eastbaymusicals.org. Rehearsals will begin Thursday, Feb. 10, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Livermore. Times are 5:45-6:30 p.m. for the youth choir; and 7-9:30 p.m. for the general choir,
Spring Concert 2022 will take place at Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore and also be livestreamed. Tickets will be available on the website when times and dates are firmed up for the weekend of May 14.
“It’s amazing how welcoming everyone in the chorus is and how dedicated we are to what we do,” Floyd said. “It is run by singers and we hope other people love it, too.”
Music Director da Roza also urges interested singers, whatever their level, to join in the chorus.
“Come, express yourself through singing, and experience the uplifting sound of many voices becoming one,” da Roza said.
