ChoralFest
July 15 - July 21, 2023
July 15 - July 21, 2023
Description
Schedule
Songs We've Sung
Conference Leadership
Pricing
Description
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ChoralFest is A Summer Choral Experience for Women.
Who should attend
All women singers are welcome at ChoralFest, regardless of experience or proficiency. Choir directors, experienced choral singers, and "shower singers" all sit side-by-side to make music in an easygoing and encouraging environment. Whatever your choral background, you will leave relaxed, rejuvenated, and inspired. If you love to sing and love the company of supportive women, come join us by the ocean! Overview of ChoralFest We sing every day at ChoralFest! We rehearse each morning and afternoon, exploring the harmonies that only women’s voices can make singing together. Our repertoire includes a variety of choral works ranging from simple chants and rounds to complex multi-part selections that stretch us technically and vocally. We always prepare some fun pieces to sing Thursday night at the Talent Show with GAYLA, the gay men's conference who share Ferry Beach with us during our week of ChoralFest. Our week culminates with an inspirational chapel service when we blend choral performance and worship in a unique and memorable way, all in the majestic setting of Ferry Beach’s outdoor chapel in the pines. Our Music Director Molly J. Webster
"When we searched for a new music director during the fall of 2019, we were delighted to find the perfect person. The decision to choose Molly was confirmed when she gamely took on her first conference with us via Zoom in 2020, despite the pandemic. Our delight was confirmed when we were able to benefit from Molly's expertise and joy in person in 2021. She is not only the Music Director at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor in Maine, but is also the director for 3 other choral groups, gives voice lessons, and has a Master’s degree in choral conducting. Molly writes: “I am incredibly excited to be offered this opportunity to share my love of singing with everyone at ChoralFest and can’t wait to get to know everybody! There’s nothing better than the sharing of a sincere love of fellowship, singing, and the ocean!"
ChoralFest Benefits
As singers, we all know that singing lightens our moods, calls on our creativity, and sharpens our thinking. In our usual lives, we have the opportunity to tap into all of these feelings for just a few hours a week. At ChoralFest we are immersed in song for a full week. The rest of the hours are yours to walk the beach, swim, gaze at the ocean, or relax on one of the many porches. You will share experiences and stories with new friends who share your love of music. If you are like most of us who have attended ChoralFest for many years, you’ll count being at ChoralFest as one of your most memorable vacations. When the sun streams through the windows of our seaside music room…when the majesty of the pines moves the spirit within us during chapel…when we see a glint of sunlight dancing on the incoming waves—how can we keep from singing?! 
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ChoralFest Newsletters
Choralfest 2023
Previous Choralfest
What past ChoralFest participants have said
"What a super experience Choral Fest is: sun, surf, sand, singing, good friends and good food. What could be better?! As a choir director, I learned so much about vocal technique and production as well as directing techniques. I will bring it all home to my church and take my already good choir to the next level!" ~ Heidi, ME “When you come together to sing and create music with people in a unique environment of acceptance and love, there is deeper meaning to the music. As a music educator, I learn more about singing in a choir through the eyes of people with varying backgrounds, degrees of musical skills and vocal colors, than when I’m the person in charge. I can listen, learn, participate in something I love and be a part of something greater than myself." ~ Naomi, VA “Singing with others is unlike anything else we can do. It is spiritual practice and ministry at the same time. Spiritual practice strengthens our own spirit giving us the resilience to face all the ups and downs of life with a bit more equanimity. Ministry is a gift of spirit we give to others, our fellow singers and the audiences we sing for. I got and I had the opportunity to give, both equally important to me.” ~ Rev. Jackie, IL |
Schedule
Highlights of the ChoralFest schedule
Check-In
Once you are checked in with Ferry Beach, please visit the ChoralFest check-in table in the Dolphin Room, just through the lobby of the Quillen building. Dolphin is our rehearsal room overlooking the ocean, and it is our primary meeting place and musical home during our week together. There we will greet you, provide your conference packet, and help you with any questions.
Saturday Evening Introduction
Saturday evening is our chance to meet together as a group for the first time! We will introduce ourselves, outline what will happen during the week, answer questions, and get to know each other. And of course, we will sing together!
Conference rehearsal sessions
The morning rehearsal sessions are 10:00-12:00 and afternoon sessions are 3:30-5:00. These are the most important sessions to attend, so that we have enough time to learn our repertoire and build community together as an ensemble. Other than these rehearsals and our two performances, all other activities are optional. Our director will provide you with the sheet music at the first rehearsal, and the music is yours to take back home after the conference. ChoralFest singers are asked to cover the cost of this music so please be prepared to pay for that when you arrive (approximately $25, cash or check).
Morning/Chapel Choir
Mornings are a chance to visit the ocean to catch a sunrise, take part in an early morning Polar Bear Swim, dance in a Sunrise Circle, or just sit on the porch with your morning coffee. After breakfast there is a short Daily Chapel service for those who choose to attend, held outdoors under tall pines in The Grove, weather permitting. All singers, including the GAYLA brothers who share the campus with us, are invited to rehearse at 8:15 each morning to form a pick-up choir for that day’s chapel service. Chapel participation is optional except for our ChoralFest performance, which will take place during Daily Chapel at the end of the week.
Free time
Lunch is at noon, and free time is scheduled between 1-3:30. Attendees often use this time to visit the beach, take a meditative walk together, go shopping, chat on the porch, play music, or just take a nap! At 5:00, following our afternoon rehearsal, there is the opportunity for a social hour with the GAYLA brothers just before dinner.
Evening Programs
Sunday through Wednesday evenings are fairly unstructured, with optional activities offered but also a chance to just rest and relax. After dinner, GAYLA and ChoralFest members who choose to can share a 15 minute Friendship Circle on the beach led by the Minister of the Week. After that, there is a short optional check-in circle for ChoralFest members, where we offer support to one another as the week unfolds. ChoralFest hosts an evening ukulele jam and sing-along – open to any instrument you want to bring with you, or just sing along! And GAYLA often invites ChoralFest to take part in some of their fun evening activities as well. Evening options will be listed on the final schedule that you will receive in your packet when you arrive.
Performances
ChoralFest will have two performances during the week. Thursday evening is our time for ChoralFest to present a couple songs at the Talent-No Talent show (TNT), which we share with the GAYLA brothers and is always a highlight of the week. Solo and small acts are encouraged, and our accompanist is usually available to support those who choose to perform. As singers know, there is a special energy to be standing in the lights on stage and putting all your energy into inspiring words and music, especially when shared with such a friendly and appreciative audience!
Friday morning is our main performance, held under the trees of our beautiful chapel in The Grove. This service is a weaving of songs and readings to inspire us as we prepare to leave the wonders of the beach.
COVID Precautions
We know that singing can be considered a risk for spreading COVID, and each summer for the past few years we have had to remain flexible and sensitive to the needs and concerns of all our singers. For example, we have performed our songs for TNT outdoors to meet the needs of our singers who are not comfortable performing indoors. The first year of the pandemic we offered a hybrid conference, with some singers at the Beach and some on Zoom. In addition to Ferry Beach’s general COVID precautions, we will continue to adapt to the continually changing guidelines. We anticipate using some mitigation strategies such as maintaining proper ventilation (using fans instead of AC in Dolphin), distancing between singers at rehearsal, rehearsing outdoors when possible, and wearing masks as desired or needed.
Check-In
Once you are checked in with Ferry Beach, please visit the ChoralFest check-in table in the Dolphin Room, just through the lobby of the Quillen building. Dolphin is our rehearsal room overlooking the ocean, and it is our primary meeting place and musical home during our week together. There we will greet you, provide your conference packet, and help you with any questions.
Saturday Evening Introduction
Saturday evening is our chance to meet together as a group for the first time! We will introduce ourselves, outline what will happen during the week, answer questions, and get to know each other. And of course, we will sing together!
Conference rehearsal sessions
The morning rehearsal sessions are 10:00-12:00 and afternoon sessions are 3:30-5:00. These are the most important sessions to attend, so that we have enough time to learn our repertoire and build community together as an ensemble. Other than these rehearsals and our two performances, all other activities are optional. Our director will provide you with the sheet music at the first rehearsal, and the music is yours to take back home after the conference. ChoralFest singers are asked to cover the cost of this music so please be prepared to pay for that when you arrive (approximately $25, cash or check).
Morning/Chapel Choir
Mornings are a chance to visit the ocean to catch a sunrise, take part in an early morning Polar Bear Swim, dance in a Sunrise Circle, or just sit on the porch with your morning coffee. After breakfast there is a short Daily Chapel service for those who choose to attend, held outdoors under tall pines in The Grove, weather permitting. All singers, including the GAYLA brothers who share the campus with us, are invited to rehearse at 8:15 each morning to form a pick-up choir for that day’s chapel service. Chapel participation is optional except for our ChoralFest performance, which will take place during Daily Chapel at the end of the week.
Free time
Lunch is at noon, and free time is scheduled between 1-3:30. Attendees often use this time to visit the beach, take a meditative walk together, go shopping, chat on the porch, play music, or just take a nap! At 5:00, following our afternoon rehearsal, there is the opportunity for a social hour with the GAYLA brothers just before dinner.
Evening Programs
Sunday through Wednesday evenings are fairly unstructured, with optional activities offered but also a chance to just rest and relax. After dinner, GAYLA and ChoralFest members who choose to can share a 15 minute Friendship Circle on the beach led by the Minister of the Week. After that, there is a short optional check-in circle for ChoralFest members, where we offer support to one another as the week unfolds. ChoralFest hosts an evening ukulele jam and sing-along – open to any instrument you want to bring with you, or just sing along! And GAYLA often invites ChoralFest to take part in some of their fun evening activities as well. Evening options will be listed on the final schedule that you will receive in your packet when you arrive.
Performances
ChoralFest will have two performances during the week. Thursday evening is our time for ChoralFest to present a couple songs at the Talent-No Talent show (TNT), which we share with the GAYLA brothers and is always a highlight of the week. Solo and small acts are encouraged, and our accompanist is usually available to support those who choose to perform. As singers know, there is a special energy to be standing in the lights on stage and putting all your energy into inspiring words and music, especially when shared with such a friendly and appreciative audience!
Friday morning is our main performance, held under the trees of our beautiful chapel in The Grove. This service is a weaving of songs and readings to inspire us as we prepare to leave the wonders of the beach.
COVID Precautions
We know that singing can be considered a risk for spreading COVID, and each summer for the past few years we have had to remain flexible and sensitive to the needs and concerns of all our singers. For example, we have performed our songs for TNT outdoors to meet the needs of our singers who are not comfortable performing indoors. The first year of the pandemic we offered a hybrid conference, with some singers at the Beach and some on Zoom. In addition to Ferry Beach’s general COVID precautions, we will continue to adapt to the continually changing guidelines. We anticipate using some mitigation strategies such as maintaining proper ventilation (using fans instead of AC in Dolphin), distancing between singers at rehearsal, rehearsing outdoors when possible, and wearing masks as desired or needed.
Songs We've Sung
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Conference Leadership
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Molly J. Webster, Music Director
We are excited to welcome back Molly J. Webster as our choral director! Molly has been leading us in song since 2020 and we can’t wait to see what she has planned for us this year! Molly J. Webster (she/her), originally from Patten, Maine, is an alumna of The University of Maine with dual undergraduate degrees in Vocal Music Education and Vocal Performance. She additionally holds an MMus in Choral Conducting attained under the mentorship of Dr. Dennis Cox. Molly is the artistic director of The Bangor Area Youth Choirs, a 3-choir program for central-Maine youth ages 8-18, is the founder and artistic director of Divisi, an auditioned, contemporary a cappella choir, and serves as the director of The New Renaissance Singers Community Choir, a non-auditioned choir performing a wide variety of repertoire and genres. Additionally, she serves as music director at The Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor, is the founder and director of Husson University Singers and teaches several courses in music education and vocal performance at The University of Maine where she also served as the interim director of the Collegiate Chorale. Molly is the Music Research and Brainstorming Coordinator for Soul Matters, and is the director of ChoralFest, a week-long choral retreat for SSAA voices on the shores of Ferry Beach in Southern Maine. For the past 17 years, Ms. Webster has also been offering private voice lessons (remote and in-person) for all ages, beginner to advanced. Molly has a strong understanding of the female voice and we love when she shares her knowledge of vocal techniques during our ChoralFest rehearsals! |
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Tim Horne, Musician of the Week and Accompanist
Tim Horne has been ChoralFest’s accompanist extraordinaire since 2013, and we are thrilled that he will also be serving as Musician of the Week this summer! Tim’s musicianship makes him a masterful accompanist who accurately plays any music. His sensitive collaboration with our directors and knowledgeable assistance to us singers are part of what makes ChoralFest such a wonderful week. We also rely on him to step in wherever needed for both ChoralFest and GAYLA, always with a smile. He is the music director at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, NY. He is also the accompanist for the Catskill Choral Society, Hartwick College Choir, and Oneonta High School. |
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Bobbi Giardina and Barb Weber, Conference Coordinators
Barb Weber Barb has been attending ChoralFest since 2010. She discovered ChoralFest at a time in her life when she was in need of renewal and found exactly what she was looking for at Ferry Beach. Barb is from Dayton Ohio, where she sings with her church choir as well as the Bach Society of Dayton. She took community college choral classes for 20 years and has sung with the World House Choir. Barb is a retired mental health therapist. Her interests besides singing include reading, knitting, hiking, and gardening. Bobbi Giardina Bobbi was first introduced to Ferry Beach and ChoralFest in the summer of 2017, and it was love at first sight! All year she looks forward to coming back to experience the healing of the ocean, the caring community of Ferry Beach, and the joy of singing together. Bobbi grew up on Long Island and settled in Storrs, Connecticut, where she sings and assists with numerous community choirs and her UCC church choir. As an early childhood educator and music teacher Bobbi believes in using singing to build community. She is an intern this year with the Consonare Youth Choir and is currently working toward a Kodaly Music Teaching Certificate. In addition to singing, teaching, studying, and spending time with her family and two dogs, Bobbi enjoys playing piano and ukulele. |
Pricing
Pricing per Person |
Adult: $480.00 (Includes Conference Fees + Meals) Youth: $360.00 (Includes Conference Fees + Meals) Off-Site Daily Fee (Commuter): $60.00 Adult / $40.00 Youth (Includes Lunch Only) On-Site Daily Fee: $19.00 (On Campus and Not Registered for Programming. Does not Include Meals) |
Lodging |
Lodging Prices Vary Base on Selection. See our Lodging Page for pricing information. |
Membership |
Membership must be paid to attend any Ferry Beach program and is due annually. Individual Membership: $35.00 Family Membership: $60.00 See our Membership Page to learn more and to purchase or renew a membership or add on to your reservation. |
Register |
to register by phone, call the office at 207-282-4489 or email registration@ferrybeach.org |
Our mission at Ferry Beach is to awaken hearts to explore, grow and renew the spirit of universal love.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
