Spring 2026 Updates
On Sunday, February 15th, CWC presented our annual Cabaret fundraiser at Motorco Music Hall in Durham. Many performers (if not playing their own instruments) were accompanied by Eileen Snyder on piano and Patrick McGrew on percussion. The evening was documented by Brandi Melvin-Scammell (video) and Elliot Blumberg (photography).
Our gracious host and emcee for the evening was Stormie Daie! Stormie is a prominent member of the drag scene and LGBTQ+ community in Durham, acting as host/emcee, performer, or even reader for the NC chapter of Drag Story Hour. She has emceed for the past 3 CWC Cabaret fundraisers and is always a gracious (and gorgeous) host!
Our Villainous Cabaret was an opportunity to showcase our singers performing solos, duets, or group acts with many interpretations of “villain.” Our guests were introduced to villains both real - nice guys (“Grenade”), high school bullies (“I’d Rather be Me”), or our own inner critic (“Stupid Bitch”)—and imagined—“Mr. Grinch,” Cinderella's step-sisters (“Step Sister’s Lament”), or trans people (“Ugly Nasty Commie Bitch”). Some performers considered crime and its price when it comes to fashion (“Stripes”) and love (“Criminal” and “Bust Your Kneecaps.”)
The Travel Team and the whole chorus also reminded us of the historic portrayal of women as villains in the form of witches, performing “W.I.T.C.H.” and “I’ll Put a Spell on You” respectively. Transposition also joined us, performing “Magpie” arranged by CWC singer Eva Williams. Singers did not just sound good; they looked good too! We’ve posted our favorite photos of the incredible outfits (and props) that the night had to offer on our social media.
We raised a total of $4,884 for our chorus after expenses through ticket sales and donations. Many thanks to Motorco, Stormie, our accompanists, our generous supporters and volunteers, and all who joined us (despite the villainous weather)!
Written by Amanda Benton; Edited by Katie Zellonis Otto and Brandi Melvin-Scammell
Sister Singers Network Festival 2026: Power In Harmony!
Sister Singers Network (SSN) was born in 1981 and grew into a cooperative web of feminist choruses, ensembles, composers, arrangers, and individual singers collaborating to support and enrich the women's choral movement. As this movement expands to include trans and nonbinary feminists, the make-up of the network continues to grow and shift to reflect that membership.
Every four years, Sister Singer Network holds a festival inviting their nearly 90 feminist and social justice choruses from across the nation to create power in harmony through singing, networking, educational workshops, and more. These festivals feature sessions with composers, a wide array of classes, rehearsals, and performances, and participation in a “mass chorus” of several hundred attendees across multiple choruses performing works together.
This July, 22 CWC singers will travel to Chicago’s Loyola University to participate in the 14th SSN Festival, “Power In Harmony.” We’re excited to join with several hundred singers and share five days of music, learn from some of our choral icons, engage with singers from near and far, and discover new compositions to perform in future concerts.
For a single singer to attend, it costs approximately $970, which includes registration, travel, lodging, and meals. While many singers fund their own way, the Common Woman Chorus offers full and partial scholarships to ensure everyone who wants to participate can experience this powerful event. Our 2025 Giving Tuesday fundraiser focused on raising funds to support our singers in need of scholarships, and we were able to raise over $10,000! Thank you to everyone who has supported that campaign and others! If you would like to continue supporting our journey to SSN Festival 2026, click here.
Written by Janie Mac Neela; Edited by Katie Zellonis Otto and Brandi Melvin-Scammell
Save The Date: our Spring Concert, “Illuminate,” will be on Saturday, May 30th, at ERUUF. Join us for a program of music that honors the light we create when we stand together. Tickets will be available online very soon, and we can’t wait to see you all there!
Can’t make it in person? We are excited to once again offer concert livestreams courtesy of Three Attic Entertainment (www.threeatticnc.com; 336-406-4882). The livestreams will be free to join, with a suggested donation of at least $15. More details to follow!
Written by Katie Zellonis Otto; Edited by Brandi Melvin-Scammell
In line with our upcoming spring concert theme of hope, light, and resilience, we plan to share a spotlight series highlighting members of our community who are involved in local activism, volunteering, or other community-based work that aligns with our values of transformation and justice. We want to celebrate the positive contributions that our members offer to local organizations and campaigns working toward equity, justice, kindness, peace, and aid to those in need while also sharing opportunities for our larger audience to support the organizations doing such necessary work in our community.
For our audience members who are also plugged in with similar work in our community, we would like to invite you to participate as well. To be featured in the spotlights, please click here to fill out this form.
Written by Janie Mac Neela; Edited by Katie Zellonis Otto and Brandi Melvin-Scammell
As a social justice chorus, CWC values collaboration and partnership with other organizations working to support marginalized members of our community and create a better world for us all. To wrap up this semester’s newsletter, we wanted to highlight a handful of groups that we have had the opportunity to partner with in recent years.
Pauli Murray Center: The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice lifts up the life and legacy of activist, legal scholar, feminist, poet, and Episcopal priest, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, in order to address enduring inequities and injustices. The Pauli Murray Center is a nationally significant history site, anchored by Pauli Murray’s childhood home built by her grandparents in 1898 at 906 Carroll Street in Durham, North Carolina. By connecting history to contemporary human rights issues, the Pauli Murray Center activates visitors of all ages to stand up for peace, equity and justice.
Feed Durham: Feed Durham is a scrappy mutual aid collective that came together due to mounting COVID-related hunger. Since 2020, we've fed 188,000 neighbors. We know we are only as safe as our least hungry neighbor. We serve more than just food. We serve hope.
BIPOC Meditation Group: A co-creative meditation space designed to foster a sense of belonging and nurture meaningful connections for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We gather as kindred souls, each bringing unique experiences and perspectives, to sit, breathe, meditate, and engage in self-reflection and open-hearted group experiences. Our meditation group values each voice and embraces the richness of our collective wisdom. Come, be part of a circle where your presence and unique journey are celebrated. We can't wait to welcome you and meditate together.
LGBTQ+ Center of Durham: The LGBTQ Center of Durham supports LGBTQ+ people through services, programming, resources, and support networks that center their wellbeing and allows them to thrive. The LGBTQ Center of Durham commits to centering the experiences of those who are the most marginalized among us. With a history of providing services supplementing this commitment, we continue to strive to set an example for other communities and organizations to prioritize lifting our family up…Our services are open to the entire community and seek to make room for all people.
Durham Resistance Singers: A group of folks who love to sing, care about our neighbors and community members, and want to make a difference with our voices.
Transposition: We are a small ensemble for trans voices based in Durham, NC. We sing to create a space of trans joy and solidarity, both in song and in society.
Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus: The Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus (TGMC) fosters a safe place and provides an avenue for LGBTQ+ persons and their allies to develop and display their musical talents. We proudly affirm the value and worth of the LGBTQ+ community while also promoting acceptance, pride, and equal rights for all.
Triangle Pride Chorus: The Triangle Pride Chorus is a community music program designed to provide opportunities for musicianship, community building, and advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community in the Triangle area of North Carolina, under the umbrella of the Triangle Pride Band organization. The Triangle Pride Band holds two commitments: (1) to create a space for musicians to perform and rehearse high-quality music, and (2) to uplift and create safe spaces for socialization and community-building in the LGBTQIA+ community.
This list by no means is all-encompassing of the organizations we have connected with, nor is it a fully exhaustive list of the organizations doing important work in our community. If you work with an organization and want to share more, we would love to hear from you via the Singer & Community Spotlights Google Form shared above.
Written by Katie Zellonis Otto; Edited by Brandi Melvin-Scammell