Saugerties Sings Community Chorus opened its fifth season with a high-energy rehearsal, bringing together a mix of new and returning singers and underscoring the group’s mission of accessibility, flexibility, and joy.

The chorus, which meets weekly and is open to all regardless of experience, gathered at the United Methodist Church on Washington Street. Twenty-five singers attended the first rehearsal, an increase from previous seasons, organizers said.

The Saugerties singers are among the roughly 43 million Americans who regularly sing in choruses, according to a study by Chorus America, a national advocacy, research, and leadership development organization. The study found a strong correlation between choral singing and life satisfaction, civic involvement, discipline, and teamwork. Research has also shown that group singing can lower stress, relieve anxiety, and elevate endorphins—effects that align with the personal and communal joy Saugerties Sings seeks to provide.

Under the direction of co-founders Gerri Ryan and Phyllis Clark, the group worked through selections spanning the Beatles, Shaker hymns, Motown, and more. Repertoire is chosen democratically by members.

“Sing it loud and proud,” Clark, 66, the chorus’ choral director, told the group as singers swayed in their seats while rehearsing “Dancing in the Street.”

Clark, who has sung publicly since age 3 and toured internationally with the New York City–based a cappella group Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, emphasized the power of unamplified, embodied singing.

“Singing with the body is key,” she said. “It’s the people who make music, not just words or notes. People really need to come together. That’s how we get harmony. And anyone can do it.”

The chorus’ emphasis on inclusivity and low pressure has resonated with participants.

Bill Barr, 79, a newly elected member of the Saugerties Town Board, is beginning his second year with the group. A folk and rock musician who spent much of his life playing in bands and teaching guitar, Barr described singing as restorative.

“It wasn’t until I sang with the National Men’s Chorus in Washington, D.C., that I realized how therapeutic singing can be,” he said. “I jumped at the chance to join. There are usually only a couple of tenors, so I feel like my voice is needed.”

Barr said the chorus’ flexibility around attendance is especially important given his town board responsibilities. “I know I’ll now have more scheduling conflicts. I can’t make it to next week’s rehearsal,” he said.

Laura Phillips, 79, has been part of the chorus since its first season, after learning about it from Clark at the Saugerties Farmers Market.

“I just feel so good after singing. It’s something to look forward to,” Phillips said. “It’s physical enjoyment. And it’s great for meeting new people.”

The chorus was founded in November 2023 after a chance encounter facilitated by Isabel Sofer, founder of The Local. Within a day of each other, Ryan and Clark visited the newly renovated chapel at the Saugerties Reformed Church on Main Street to explore its performing arts space.

“When I mentioned I was a choral director, Isabel lit up and said a woman had just come in the day before talking about the community chorus she wants to start. I couldn’t believe it,” Clark said.

The two later met at a diner, discovered shared values around community singing, and have co-led the group ever since.

Ryan, 79, sang for years with the Rhinebeck Choral Club after retiring from her career in New York City’s garment district and moving full time to her Saugerties home of five decades. The commute eventually inspired her to start a chorus closer to home.

“My vision was for something community-minded and not stiff—a place for joy, with no rules, especially about absences,” Ryan said. “People have lives, and they should be able to come and sing whenever they want and are able to.”

The chorus includes professional musicians, longtime performers, first-time singers, and neighbors alike. Ryan’s husband, Steve, oversees a mid-rehearsal tradition of water and Oreo cookies and collects an optional $5 donation to help cover space rental.

The group regularly performs at nursing homes and community events, including the annual library fair. Its next new song will be “Attics of My Life” by the Grateful Dead.

“We love the suggestions people come up with,” Ryan said. “They often coincide with what’s going on in the world.”

More information about joining the chorus is available through its Facebook group.

Chana Widawski is a contributing reporter. Send correspondence to reporting@theoverlooknews.com