"American Requiiem" - Beyonc´e| One-Day Choir

WHAT IS A ONE-DAY CHOIR?

Gaia Music Collective's One-Day Choir series is an opportunity to sing in a choir for one day only. A celebration of song and the connective power of singing in harmony. An opportunity to build community, make some new friends, and raise our powerfully diverse voices as one.

No auditions. No commitment. No need for perfection.

Just the joy of creating something bigger than ourselves with a room full of beautiful humans!

Whether you're a vocal ensemble veteran or have never sung in a group before, you are welcome here - all experience levels are valued in Gaia Music Collective!

OUR SONG THIS TIME AROUND

For this One-Day Choir, we will be lifting our voices to “American Requiiem” by Beyoncé, arranged by our very own Kenyon Duncan. This opening track from her Cowboy Carter album is a bold and soul-stirring call to reckon with history, reclaim identity, and honor the resilience of those who came before us. With its powerful blend of gospel, folk, and country influences, the song reminds us that music can be both lament and liberation, grief and celebration. Kenyon’s arrangement will guide us through this deeply layered piece, creating a space where we can embody its message together in harmony. Join us as we transform Beyoncé’s vision into a collective choral experience that speaks to truth, justice, and belonging.

LEARNING THE MUSIC

Sheet music and vocal recordings of each part will be available as learning resources before the event, and our collective goal is to practice the parts ahead of time so that we might come into the gathering with ! This way we can spend our time together really diving into the richness of music-making, rather than trying to teach the parts one by one. We don't need to know our parts by heart by any means (and you defffinitely don’t have to memorize it), but the stronger we are in our parts coming in, the more we'll be able to really dig into the fun stuff!

(If this style of learning isn't your cup of tea, we have other group singing events where you don't need to prepare at all! Check out our CircleSinging gatherings and House Shows.)

LED and FACILITATED BY:

Kenyon Duncan is a Brooklyn-based composer-performer, teaching artist, and producer from Northern California. Grounded in the sonic traditions of the Black diaspora, Kenyon’s creative practice engages questions of embodiment and placemaking. Kenyon’s experience as a conductor and ensemble leader has led to the production of 3 award-winning albums, bringing him around the world to lead workshops on vocal performance and ensemble technique. A sought after collaborator, Kenyon’s contributions as a vocalist, pianist, and arranger are featured on multiple studio albums, and he is currently developing a solo recording project. Recent commissions include works for iSing Silicon Valley, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, the Princeton Playhouse Choir and Orchestra, and the Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia.

PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY:

• The accessible entrance is at 243 Thompson St (around the corner from 55 Washington Square South).
• A buzzer inside that door allows entry; then there is an elevator that goes from street level (Level 1) to Level 3 (Meeting Room) and Level B (basement restrooms).
• There are accessible restrooms located in the basement (Level B) via the elevator.
• The venue acknowledges accessibility as a core value: its mission statement mentions envisioning a “physical space … fully accessible to everyone”.

CANCELLATION POLICY

We want as many people to be able to experience these gatherings as possible, and since capacity is limited, each spot is precious! If you RSVP but are no longer able to come, please let us know at least 24 hours before the event so that we may offer your spot to someone else. Tickets are non-transferable, as we need to be able to gather enough funds to rent the spaces and pay our lovely facilitator.

For more info, contact us at gaiamusiccollective@gmail.com.

MEDIA CONSENT

Because we want to share what we’re up to with people who can’t join us in person, there will be photographers and videographers present — by attending, you consent to being a part of that media, some of which may be posted online! Please email us with any questions or concerns at gaiamusiccollective@gmail.com.

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RESPECT THE SPACE!

This is a beloved venue and we want to honor them! Please be considerate of the space.

About Judson Memorial Church
Founded in 1890 at the edge of Washington Square Park, Judson Memorial Church is a vibrant community rooted in the belief that faith and the arts can work hand in hand to advance social justice, creativity, and inclusion. Known for supporting artists, activists, and seekers of all kinds, Judson provides space for performance, worship, and community dialogue that uplifts diverse voices and challenges boundaries. Guided by progressive values and radical hospitality, Judson continues to serve as a sanctuary for expression, belonging, and the common good.

LOW-PRESSURE PARTICIPATION

Gaia Music Collective events are participatory, but low-pressure. You'll be invited to sing along and make music with us, but we encourage you to draw your own boundaries and engage at your own pace - we pride ourselves in creating a judgment-free community where you can express yourself however feels right!

LATE ARRIVALS

We ask that you arrive no later than 30 minutes after start time, after which we close the doors (lovingly) in order to preserve the intimacy and trust of the musical container we’re building. Thank you for understanding!

CANCELLATION POLICY

Tickets are refundable up to 24 hours before the event, after which we are no longer able to offer refunds. This policy helps us keep these events financially sustainable for both our community and our team. If you RSVP but are no longer able to come, please let us know so that we may offer your spot to someone else! We want as many people to be able to experience these gatherings as possible, and since capacity is limited, each spot is precious.

For more info, contact us at gaiamusiccollective@gmail.com.

MEDIA CONSENT

Because we want to share what we’re up to with people who can’t join us in person, there may be photographers and videographers present — by attending, you consent to being a part of that media, some of which may be posted online! If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at gaiamusiccollective@gmail.com.

NO ONE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS

Gaia is funded by sliding scale ticket donations, with a “no one turned away for lack of funds” policy. It is of the utmost importance to us that these events remain affordable and accessible - we never want money to be a barrier to making music together. If a ticket scale is financially prohibitive to you, feel free to donate outside of the scale at whatever amount is sustainable for you, or to email us at gaiamusiccollective@gmail.com for volunteer opportunities or assistance!

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

At Gaia Music Collective, we are dedicated to building a community where creativity, collaboration, and care thrive. The values listed here shape how we work together, how we engage with the world, and how we move toward upholding these principles.

OUR MISSION

Gaia Music Collective is an NYC-based creative community seeking to foster a more connected world through collective music-making. Founded in June of 2021 in a living room in Brooklyn, this project was born out of a desire to create accessible, inclusive, playful spaces for people to explore connection, expression, healing, and release through collaborative song - spaces where folks feel empowered to make music free of judgment or expectation, and to make new friends as our full, beautiful, authentic selves.

We believe that communal music-making is a fundamental human practice, and this project seeks to build spaces for folks to nurture their relationship to music, whether they're shower singers, professional musicians, or anything in between.

All are welcome in this community: all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, classes, religions, abilities, national origins, languages, and musical experiences. All we ask is that you bring an open mind, a desire to connect, and a willingness to leave judgment of self and others at the door.

FAQ

Have any questions that haven't been answered here? Check out our Event FAQs!

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