EVERETT — Fifteen voices filled the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church with song Monday evening.
Seated in pews, sheet music in their hands, the choir sang in harmony: “Bless thou the Lord oh my soul.”
Jean DeWitt stopped them in the middle of the psalm. She is the conductor and founder of the Lutheran Choral Association of Snohomish County.
“I’d love to take it slower,” DeWitt told the choir. “Whenever you have a long note, please grow on it. That adds more energy.”
After she demonstrated a crescendo on one of the long notes, the choir started the song again.
“That sounded better,” DeWitt said. “Let’s do that one more time.”
A small, dedicated group, the choral association rehearses weekly in the summer for a concert in September. This is the group’s third year. Modeled after the Lutheran Choral Association in Portland, the choir gives people from all Christian denominations in Snohomish County a chance to sing in the summer, DeWitt said. Many people love to sing but don’t have the time to devote to a year-round choral group, she said.
There are 18 people signed up for the choir and 15 were at Monday’s rehearsal. DeWitt is looking to grow the group and welcomes new members, regardless of singing experience or church of choice.
“There are a lot of people who already know these songs,” she said. “They’re welcome. This is a no-audition group.”
All of the music is based in the Christian faith, including classic English hymns and an Egyptian prayer. This year’s concert is planned for the weekend after Labor Day, but a time and location have not been set.
Most practices are Monday evenings at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, across I-5 from Everett Mall. The exception is Monday’s practice at Cedar Cross United Methodist Church on 132nd Street in Mill Creek. Everyone is welcome, DeWitt said.
“It’s always free,” she said. “We want to make it a viable thing for people with limited means.”
Iman Nassif, who lives in Snohomish and grew up in Egypt, has been with the choir since the first year. She studied music at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett and did her capstone project, “Pilgrimage into Worship,” on religious music. DeWitt was one of her mentors.
Nassif joined the choir after she and DeWitt met during an event at the college.
“I felt God was telling me there’s a connection,” Nassif said.
Her favorite part of the choir is the joy of being together with other people for worship.
“You feel comfort,” she said. “We are like a family when we sing together.”
It’s a good place to start for people who don’t know much about singing but want to try worshiping through music, Nassif said. They can go to www.lutheranchoralsnoco.org for more information, including rehearsal details and a list of songs.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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