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108 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2024 while highlighting and emphasizing the spoken word in ways that words alone cannot achieve." Poe says Walnut Street Music Ministry, a choir program for children and youth, is one way "the choral tradition is alive and thriving" at Christ Church. The choir leans into the "time- honored liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer, which continues to provide meaningful worship," said Poe, 475 years a er it was first published in Renaissance- era England. Congregational connection happens when the Beulahland Bible Church choir steps onto the platform. The exuberant songs with dynamic harmony, embellished chord progressions, and tambourines in rhythm match the group's expressive, upward-li ed faces. Hands are raised. The singers, dressed in exquisite hats, beautiful suits, and white gloves crescendo their voices according to every subtle gesture given by Raymond Darius Jackson, director of worship and creative arts. Beulahland choir sings multiple choral pieces polished during their three rehearsals per week. "Our choir learns by rote and ear, so we instill the importance of studying the musical selections for a given week," said Jackson. The draw for people to invest that amount of time "is the community and family aspect, being a part of something greater than yourself." It's a humbling and empowering idea: a meaningful sacred encounter is made from the music of your voice. Your body itself is the instrument. Jackson describes, "we have been intentional about building a culture of contribution. It's simple math: you bring your one voice as we create one voice." Tenors, bass, sopranos, and altos offer one song and invoke a holy moment. "We believe that Jesus is in the midst of that unified moment. Where his spirit is, freedom, hope, joy, peace, and healing lives," said Jackson. You might know the soul stirring that can happen when you sing and experience that kind of joy and peace. It is why Baptist choir anthems from 1997 still bring me to tears. Decades and deconstruction journeys later, the impulse to li up a song alongside others still calls to my heart. What do we sing when our voice still matters but the songs must change? A secular choir might offer that musical space. The Choral Society of Middle Georgia is a collection of "choristers from a variety of ages, backgrounds, beliefs, and positions in life," says director Dr. Gary Gerber, Dean of School of Music at Mercer University. "We celebrate music and the joy and comfort it brings to others." Comfort, and other benefits, too, according to Dr. Gerber. "In choir you learn compassion, empathy, discipline, languages, history, cooperation, leadership, and focus." Li ing your voice also impacts the whole body. Gerber says that singing "releases endorphins in the body which helps in reducing stress and promotes relaxation." The Choral Society recently joined with Mercer University Choir, Mercer Singers, and the Ainsworth Choir of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church choir to share "Requiem" by Maurice Duruflé. The rapturous concert, in which the combined voices resonated to the heights of the vaulted ceiling in exhilarating harmonies, ended with a six-minute standing ovation. Chris Abbott, who sings with the Ainsworth Choir, said, "something spiritual happened that day with over 75 Four local choirs joined to perform "Requiem" by Maurice Duruflé in April. Pictured bottom right: Chris Abbott.