Choral Singers of Marin DBA Singers Marin

My mother Nancy first joined SingersMarin because she enjoyed singing so much and missed not being a part of a group. That was over 20 years ago and she still continues to sing with the other ladies in Wings of Song while also assiting with wardrobe for each session. It was through my Mom that I became the office assistant at SingersMarin. Both the women and men of SingersMarin have become my second family. After having worked in the office world for many years, I love to come here help out in anyway I can! It is an absolute joy to come in and each day is full of different tasks. It has been amazing to watch this organization continually grow and I am proud to be part of it!

Wow... where do I start? Singers Marin is one of the best assets in Marin...hands down. It has been instrumental in changing the young lives of two girls for whom I will be forever in gratitude. I am the guardian of two beautiful girls whose mom died in a car accident at a young age and endured neglect and abuse from their former caregivers. And although these girls have been extremely resilient in overcoming their past traumas, they have been challenged by self-esteem, self-worth and confidence issues. Then Last Summer we happened upon the Singers Marin "Musical You" Musical Summer Camp in Mill Valley spear-headed by Jan Schiff and Amanda Morano. Amazingly, In two weeks these girls were singing Broadway tunes in groups and proudly alone on stage. It was simply magical! Then during this past schoolyear, both girls had the confidence to enter their school's talent show. Proudly they both sang...with no accompaniment...and in acapella..."Put A Little Love in Your Heart" to an audience of over 200 people. I don't think their was a single dry eye in the school that night after their performance. I attribute this success to the Singers Marin who introduced them to singing songs in a magical way which has now become part of their souls. And now, they sooo enjoy proudly sharing their songs with others. The gift that Singers Marin gave these girls is not easy to find or come by...and no amount of money can buy it. It is a gift that will no doubt will last these children a lifetime.

I m thrilled to share my personal experience with this wonderful orgonization. Choral Singers of Marin have performed for Aegis for over a decade, always looking and sound professional. They are flexible and easy to work with scheduling for the childrens, teens and adult chiors. They're always on time, come prepared for warm-ups and are generous with their time by always staying to greet and thank the residents for coming. I highly recomment Jan Pedersen and the Choral Singers of Marin.

I have had contact with Choral Singers of Marin for many years. They provide wonderful music to our community. All ages get to sing with them and they get to perform their music to so many different areas of our community. At events, at retirement homes, at concerts, to local business, during the holidays and more. I have seen so many people smile and feel good by listening to the choral singers from small children to adults.

Wonderful, adorable and absolutely enchanting. Singers of Marin, Twinkling Stars (their youngest choral group of children 6-8 years old) entertained us at our recent fundraising dinner to benefit, Gilead House, a transitional home for homeless moms and kids. The little singers grabbed the hearts of all who attended and they can sing too! The result was our most successful fundraising event ever. Thank you little Twinkling Stars. They are a must for any event and we hope to have them back again soon.

I first learned of Choral Singers of Marin from a roadside billboard inviting community members to join in an open holiday sing-along. I enjoyed the rehearsals and concert so much I wanted to get more involved. Once I learned that Choral Singers of Marin also performed at area senior living facilities and provided free lessons to many youths who could not otherwise afford such instruction, I was pleased to accept a position on the board and work toward increasing awareness and sponsorship of this wonderful organization in our community.

Having been an active choral and small group musician for several decades, I had been searching for a coed a cappella group with exactingly high musical standards. I found such an organization in Singers Marin's Just Voices, the professional a cappella ensemble. I was subsequently invited to join the Board. In the interim two years I've thoroughly enjoyed the music, the performances and the camaraderie, and most significantly the high musical standards maintained by our artistic director Jan. This is an organization with a mission- to promote the highest levels of musicianship to all generations- from the school age children as they graduate up through the successive choruses, to the adult performing groups, to the ongoing community outreach concerts at group homes and retirement communities. In a time when arts organizations struggle to survive, S.M. continues to have a solid community of participants with a shared passion for vocal music.

SingersMarin is one of the most deserving community arts groups I've ever been associated with! I have always been a singer, and have sung in a cappella groups and church choirs for most of my life, but wanted a deeper involvement with my local community. About 6 years ago, I was fortunate in being able to semi-retire after a long career with Dolby Laboratories. In looking around for volunteer positions, I came across SingersMarin, which is an umbrella name for nine choruses from young children, middle schoolers, high school, an adult women's chorus. I auditioned and was selected for a new adult a cappella group, which became known as Just Voices. After a wonderful year of singing, our director, Jan Pedersen-Schiff, invited me to attend a board retreat, along with some singers from various groups, and parents of our youth singers. When I heard of all the wonderful work being done in the community, from teaching kids in our local underserved community, to singing in retirement homes for the elderly, and an amazing concert schedule, I was hooked! I joined the Board, and about a year later, was asked to be the Board chairman. Our challenges have been fundraising, providing our artistic director with adequate support so that she can spend less time on administrating the organization, and fundraising. I've been very pleased with the quality of the board members I work with, and their dedication, but as a part-time volunteer board, we rely on contributions form local businesses and foundations. We are gearing up for a 25th anniversary concert at Davies Hall in San Francisco next April, with a commissioned work by composer Gwyneth Walker, and Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms. We'll be joined by the Mill Valley Philharmonic orchestra, a Russian male chorus, and Voci, an outstanding women's chorus from the East Bay. We are truly thankful for our many years of bringing joy to the community, and look forward to your participation!

I have participated in several of the summer programs with thei group. No auditions needed just the love of singing. I joined with my elementary school daughter. We were suprised at the high level of professionalism with their choir, directors, and accompanyist. In addtion it was great community service taking our large choir to sing for shut ins who could never have come to see our performance. I have reccomended, and recrutied many to participate. Joining with others to make music touches me in a way that nothing on earth can. While I have not participated for a few years, I still attend their performances and will continue whenever I can.

Choral Singers of Marin has a very profound mission statement: "Appreciating that music is the language of soul, through our singing we will nurture people of all ages as we touch the heart with beauty and uplift the spirit with joyful song" The association of choruses support age groups from 5 years to 80. They have an incredible reach and impact on the Marin County area. My interest and knowledge stem from the youth choirs. There are 5 various choirs catering to various age groups. They perform locally and globally inspiring all generations and ethnic backgrounds. The youth choirs are a wonderful alternative and addition to kids educational development including leadership, exposure, confidence and sharing. I am incredibly inspired by the tireless and selflessness attributed to the team that year after year bring music to the community. But they don't stop with just local inspirations at elderly homes, community centers, baseball games and other various venues, they travel to places like South Africa, Austria and Germany. They compete in Olympic Choir Games among hundreds of groups from 100's countries sharing the inspiration and vision "that music is the language of the soul". I believe the mission statement is understated. Singers of Marin is an inspiration and a gift that keeps giving.

Singers Marin brings several wonderful concerts, both small and large, to our community each year. Our audiences value the professional skill of the director (Jan Pedersen-Schiff), and the quality of the voices, especially in the Wings of Song chorus. Wings of Song performs twice a year for us in our large Auditorium and also in our Health Care center serving long term care and rehab patients. Especially to this second group, quality live music is an incredibly meaningful gift to share. Smaller choruses of children also do short informal performances in our Library and Personalized Care areas to the delight of all. A wonderful group to be involved with and we're lucky to be a beneficiary of their considerable talent and generosity.

I moved to Marin in high school and found that my new school had no choir! I was so happy to find SingersMarin and a choir that I could sing in. I got to travel to Europe with the group, and made new friends which was difficult for me moving to a new place at 16. The other thing that this organization did for me was push me to pursue music in my life. I worked with the Artistic Director privately as well, and was able to get into a Performing Arts High School to finish school, which was incredibly life changing for me. I went on the study Music and Vocal Performance in college in large part due to this organization. I now teach for SingersMarin. Though that may make me biased, I think it shows how much this Non-Profit did for my life.

When I was in high school, there was no choir at the school. Thankfully, I found SingersMarin and was able to grow and sing choral music. I made friends through the high school age group Les Etoiles and got to travel to Europe with them. In large part to this group and its' director Jan Pedersen Schiff I was able to continue singing and pursue a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. I treasure my memories from singing in this group, and recommend it to all!

My daughter participated in Singers Marin last fall. She loves to sing, but lacked confidence. After the season, not only did she improve her vocal skills, but she built her confidence in every aspect of her life. I highly recommend this organization, and fully endorse them.

My daughter joined Choral Singers of Marin in fourth grade because she loved singing. Choral Singers of Marin has not only developed her skills but also inspired her. Choral Singers of marin is a fantastic program that offers a variety of singing groups according to age and levels and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to sing. You will have so many opportunities to learn, share, and become inspired.

Watching my daughter's confidence blossom regarding her singing is precious. She started very tentatively when she joined the choral group - which is a wonderful way to start for someone self conscious. She is developing a knowledge base about music and a deep love of singing. Her skills are improving and it is such a joy to hear her practicing at home, in the car, in the shower... music has become a deep seeded part of her life. Singers Marin has inspired her and it is truly magical.

I joined the chorus after the death of my husband when I needed to feel alive again. The chorus gave me a new beginning. That was 9 years ago.

It is magical to see faces light up as the residents in the nursing homes remember our music. Sometimes they sing with us. I feel we are making their day a little brighter. It certainly brightens my day to sing for them.

I have experience the beauty and value that SingersMarin brings to our community throughout Marin County. The first time I heard those girls sing it inspired me to become involved as a member of their board for which I participated for a number of years. Through their singing people can connect with a purpose which is displayed on every one of their faces. It touches the soul and brings meaning to their (and our) lives. I will always be thankful that they are out there bringing this gift to us all.

Bill McKeon

This group has been providing wonderful music in Marin County since 1987. There are both adult and youth groups, and in addition to providing great musical training and a wonderful sense of camaraderie to the singers, the groups perform over 40 concerts each year for the elderly of the county. Jan Pedersen-Schiff, the Artistic Director and Founder, is a gifted singer and conductor and has trained a generation of singers (young and old). There are groups for all ages from about 5 up to adults. I also sing with the adult women's group and can say that it is one of the friendliest, most welcoming groups of people I have ever had the pleasure to sing with.