Pasadena Pro Musica has been presenting Choral music to the Pasadena Community since 1964 and for the first time in its history will open it’s doors to the public to sing Mozart’s “Requiem”. That’s right, anyone is welcome.
“It’s completely informal. Anyone can come and nobody needs experience as a singer. It’s just really meant to be fun and a new experience for some people,” said Pasadena Pro Musica Board Member David Spiro.
“Summer Sing” is the first event of its kind in the area and is sponsored by both PPM and Neighborhood Church who provides the space for PPM’s rehearsals and performances. It will be conducted by PPM Artistic Director Stephen Grimm.
According to Spiro, this unique open-form event is popular in other cities, but for some reason hasn’t quite struck in L.A.
“It’s a long time tradition in New York, Chicago and San Franciso and doesn’t seem to happen in L.A. so we though we would try to start a new tradition,” said David Spiro.
The idea of “Summer Sing” sprouted from PPM singers who wanted an outlet to sing during the off-months of the PPM choir shows in a window that spans from May to September.
“There is no judgement. All levels of people are welcome. It’s just supposed to be an evening of fun music making where people get together and sing a great piece of music together,” said Spiro. “It will be for people that have never sung before and are curios what it’s like. It will be like attending a rehearsal.”
Singers will read through the music accompanied by a pianist and quartet of soloists consisting of young, up and coming singers from the area.
Mozart’s “Requiem” is a work for choruses and soloists, according to Spiro.
“Everyone who comes will be singing all of the choruses. It’s very dramatic and very powerful,” said Spiro.
PPM and Neighborhood church hope to eventually spark interest in the area and kick off a regular event like this one during the choir season.
“If it’s successful and we get a good turnout, we hope that in 2017 we will do it as a series. We’ve gotten lots of good feedback from our Facebook posts,” said Spiro who explained that about 800 people online have been reached.
“We really just want people to come and have a fun musical experience,” said Spiro.
“Summer Sing” kicks off Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Neighborhood Church located at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd.
The event is free for all singers experienced or not. Listeners can sit in and observe.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/pasadenapromusica.
