Among
those who are often seen wandering around The
Stroud Mall in Stroudsburg, PA www.stroud-mall.com,
a group of multi-generational music lovers gathered in the mall's
food court area on
Saturday January 16th
to participate in an event titled, “We
Sing Weekend.”
60
people stood in front of a banner created by artists inhabiting the
town's Origins Gallery www.facebook.com/OriginsGalleryStroudsburg
as
an audience numbering over 200 people waited to experience their
voices.
Bob Riday led the choir and the audience in an eclectic variety of
sing-along
compositions like “Row, Row, Row your boat,” “Rubber Ducky,”
“This Old Man,” and “Hokey Pokey” while Donna Molan
accompanied the assembly on piano. A delight was reflected in the
voices and eyes of all who were present as the childlike joy that was
embodied in each song touched their hearts.
The
“We
Sing Weekend” endeavor actually began on Friday January 15th.
Prior to the Stroud Mall event, a large number of
music lovers shared sing-along songs with over 250 Seniors Citizens
who resides in senior communities located throughout the Monroe
County, PA area. Many of these singers were part of the event at The
Stroud Mall along with others whose desire to share their voices came
to join. I
did not attend the sing ins at the
senior communities
but, if the experience at the Saturday performance can be used as an
faithful indication of their qualities, it could be reasonably
surmised that the senior community performances were highly
enjoyable. You'll be able to find more photographs taken during the
“We Sing Weekend” held at The Stroud Mall in
the We
Sing The Weekend Eclectic Gallery at
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154504743238761.1073741936.91146283760&type=3.
The
“We
Sing Weekend” initiative was begun by Tassy Gilbert and Gary Raish
as they realized that everyone likes to sing and everyone has a
voice. And, sing along songs were compositions mostly everyone knew
and could easily sing. So, an
invitation was issued to the community a few weeks prior to the event
encouraging anyone who loved to sing to join. Joining
promised a wide degree of flexibility as there were no rehearsals
scheduled for weekend event and there were no restriction regarding
the age one could be to participate nor were there any thought given
to the level of singing experience one had. All one had to do was to
show up and sing.
A
wonderful blending of voices came together enhancing the community
building qualities of the songs they performed. I
found the afternoon at The Stroud Mall to be a very pleasing one as I
enjoyed being reminded of songs taught to me as a child in elementary
school and on records my parents bought me during my preschool years.
A
hope that there will be other such community sing ins scheduled for
the future was shared by all who were present. The leaders of the
endeavor indicated there will be a number of them but they were
currently in the planning stages. But, it was anticipated such plans
would be solidified soon.
You
can learn more about “We
Sing Weekend” and future events by exploring their Facebook Group
at www.facebook.com/groups/925548060874110
or by emailing Gary Raish at garyraish@hotmail.com
and Tassy Gilbert at tassy.gilbert@gmail.com.
Photography
by Paparazzi Paul.
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