This Sunday the Calliope Feminist Choir will take the stage at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville for its fourth annual concert.
Dressed in various shades of purple for various reasons, including spiritual symbolism, the women of Calliope will perform 18 songs that address topics such as social justice, the environment and women's issues.
We are a feminist choir because the word feminist defines what we sing about
said Nancy Pierce, director of Calliope. We celebrate women composers and women in our song. We celebrate people and nature. I believe that all songs have a message and our songs message is favorable to women.
Pierce has been with Calliope since 1993 when the choir was created as a program at the United Campus Ministries. Although it was not originally a feminist choir, the group of 12 women attended a women's choir festival and was inspired to change the name to Calliope Feminist Choir, Pierce said.
Today the group has grown to more than 35 members ranging in age from college students to retired women, all living in the Athens area. The choir is run by a six-member steering committee that makes policy decisions for the group.
Besides its yearly concert, Calliope has performed at local events, such as a fundraiser for United Campus Ministries, the Take Back the Night march and the Women's Herstory Celebration.
Most of the music the choir sings is written by women, for women's groups ' which is sometimes difficult to find, Pierce said. Calliope solves the problem by sharing music with the International Sister Singers Network, a network of women's choirs in the United States and Canada.
The songs for Calliope's upcoming concert include pieces such as No Mirrors in My Nana's House a song about love and acceptance, Cradle Songs a lullaby medley, and Foolish Nation
a song about peace.
We sing about issues that are hard to talk about
said choir member Gail Hecky. This helps promote an attitude of acceptance. It may be easier for people to hear (these messages) in a song. Hopefully it will generate some discussion among people.
The members of Calliope share a bond that goes beyond their weekly practices, Hecky said.
Besides producing music
we build lots of friendships
Hecky said. We have socials and potlucks and it becomes a whole community
which is really fun.
Mangala Sharma, a professor of physics and astronomy at Ohio University, grew up in India. She had never sung in a choir before, until she joined Calliope two years ago.
It was the first time I had a feeling of home
Sharma said. When I first started working with the choir I saw a diversity of people there
people with a variety of backgrounds
people with a variety of jobs and a variety of musical talents.
Calliope will perform at Stuart's Opera House, 34 Public Square, in Nelsonville, this Sunday at 4 p.m. Calliope will have auditions for new members May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church, 69 Mill St.
