Fall 2025 Updates
Thanks to singers Beth Hoke and Charity Crabtree, a group of singers gathered weekly during our summer break to sing “Sea Shanties” and related à cappella tunes at Beth’s home. Sea shanties are songs about the sea, lovers left behind, and better times, created by sailors and sung by crews to make work more tolerable. Participants researched songs to share and Charity initiated a library of tunes we enjoyed and some added for future sing-a-longs. Favorites included “Barrett’s Privateers,” “BottlePop,” and “Mr. Crump Don’t Like It.” Singing together was great fun, and at our Fall semester kick-off potluck, the Sea Shanty group performed several tunes to enthusiastic applause. The Shanties plan to resume singing and enlarging our repertoire during semester breaks. Ahoy!
CWC members also showed their Pride spirit on the pitch this summer, joining in on two exciting Pride Night sports events in June. We cheered on our local National Women's Soccer League team as the NC Courage triumphed over the Houston Dash with a 2–1 victory on June 21. Just a few days later, the Durham Bulls lit up the field (with looming lightning storms) with their annual Pride game on June 26. Keep an eye out for CWC next summer—we’ll be back for more fun, celebration, and community on and off the field!
Written by Janie Mac Neela and Kelly Lucey; Edited by Katie Zellonis Otto and Brandi Melvin-Scammell
On Saturday, August 16th, singers gathered to participate in an “Assessing Choral Harmony” workshop led by Sam Bullington, professor of Women’s Gender Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, GALA (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses) consultant and workshop facilitator, and founder and director of “Phoenix,” Colorado's Trans Community Choir. CWC’s Equity and Belonging committee invited Sam to lead this workshop to help us continue exploring who we are as a chorus, how we participate as part of the community at-large, and how we can use learning and affinity groups to bridge differences, including race, culture, generations, gender identity, neurodiversity, and other experiences. We participated in large and small group activities intended to deepen connections with each other, explore “blind spots,” collaborate on potential solutions, and consider how we can best live our CWC missions as a social justice group dedicated to making positive changes for the benefit of all.
Since the workshop, singers have volunteered to lead several Affinity groups that host members to share their common experiences and enjoy time with others who identify similarly. Other singers are leading Learning groups for members who are eager to discuss and expand knowledge of gender identity, appropriate use of personal pronouns, and related topics that promote understanding and support for differences. We are grateful to Sam and to our Equity and Belonging Committee leaders who have worked diligently over the past few years to help us become the chorus and community we want to be!
Written by Janie Mac Neela; Edited by Katie Zellonis Otto and Brandi Melvin-Scammell
We were excited to return to Pride Durham this year for several festivities throughout the weekend of September 26th-28th! We performed a short set from our Spring 2025 concert on the Pride Stage in CCB Plaza Friday evening, including “Over the Rainbow,” “Kaleidoscope Heart,” and “Truly Brave.” Then, on Saturday, we were happy to march in the Parade and show off our witchy spirit in excitement for our upcoming Fall Concert, “The Witching Hour.” We were lucky that the rain held off so that we could enjoy time celebrating the amazing LGBTQIA+ community here in our hometown. We are glad to be part of the annual Pride Durham celebrations and to share our music with the Durham community!
Written by Katie Zellonis Otto; Edited by Brandi Melvin-Scammell
Save the date: our Fall Concert, “The Witching Hour”, will be on Saturday, November 22nd, at ERUUF. Join us for an enchanting performance featuring songs about mysticism, the stars and the moon, magic and spells, the supernatural, spirituality, and more. Tickets will be available online very soon, and we can’t wait to see you all there!
Written by Katie Zellonis Otto; Edited by Brandi Melvin-Scammell
This fall, we are sharing a spotlight series on social media to highlight the various committees and affinity groups that keep our chorus thriving. From the Executive Committee of our Board Of Directors to our Trans Affinity Group and everything in between, expect to learn more about all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into sustaining our chorus and enhancing our community. You can read all of the spotlights on our website here: https://www.commonwomanchorus.org/singer-spotlights
Written by Janie Mac Neela and Katie Zellonis Otto; Edited by Brandi Melvin-Scammell