anaïs maviel

ISO vocalists to join choir and/or weekly vocal workshop!

8/13/2023

We are vocalists, composers, choir directors, conductors and circle singing facilitators coming from Afrocentric, Jewish, Bulgarian & South Indian multicultural backgrounds. We are bringing together a choir working with the healing power of sound, based on vocal and musical excellence, deep listening and depth of embodiment, with artistic director Anaïs Maviel. It is a professional endeavor as we all are working musicians intending to elevate the experience of choir rehearsal and performance, while making this a solid source of revenue for us. This is a community project to the extent that true diversity as well as audience inclusion is key to the collective transformation that we believe is the function of music.

We are looking for excellent vocalists of all ranges (especially bass and baritone) with strong ears and interest in dense harmonies and complex rhythms. We favor oral transmission, so sight-reading or classical training aren’t necessary, however, familiarity with Western notation is a precious asset for efficiency in rehearsal. We call for voices that can blend in an open throat (folk/world) style so as to build a unique, diverse and powerful choir sound.
We are looking for professional level singers who are interested in contributing to a collective endeavor with high creative and professional ambitions. Improvisation, arrangement, composition, direction, grant-writing, accounting and booking skills are much welcome.

INFORMAL AUDITIONS in the form of rehearsals will be held on MON, TUES & WED August 28, 29 & 30th, 6-8PM, Manhattan or Brooklyn location to be announced. Please hold all 3 dates, if possible.

If we’re a match, weekly rehearsals starting September 10 are held on Sunday nights (6-8PM), location TBA (Manhattan or Brooklyn).

First gig is on October 5th, 2023 at Greenwood cemetery's catacombs in Brooklyn, with repertoire by composer Anaïs Maviel. Pays 150. Two evening sets.
9/10, 17, 27 & 10/1 rehearsals are mandatory for this performance. If you cannot make all 4 rehearsals but are interested in committing to this ensemble, let’s talk. We are looking at creating a rotating cast that can learn a common repertoire and be available for upcoming gigs.

If you are interested in singing weekly for fun, brushing up your technique, and occasionally filling in for the choir’s upcoming gigs, Anaïs will also lead vocal workshops on Sundays before the choir rehearsals. Learn more about Anaïs’ teaching here. Do contact her for further information about the workshop commitment at [email protected]

How to prepare for the audition:
Listen to some of this music, and see if you resonate with the aesthetics.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOXWd0N5Zf_GxPFxDsEKRGD-W3vo-PTUD
https://soundcloud.com/ana-s-maviel/sets/commons-choir

As soon as you confirm your interest and August availability, we will send scores and part recordings for Gayatri Mantra.

We will start with a vocal warm up, play with rhythm, harmony and improvisation in a circle singing style, and we will look into Gayatri Mantra and likely Glory to the Sun.

A note from the artistic director:
I focus on artistic excellence and healing. I approach my vocal practice and leadership as a healer, which means that my mental, physical, emotional, relational and spiritual well-being are essential keys to my ability to hold space for audiences to have transformational experiences. That is part of the ethos I offer in this choir, as a facilitator.

About multiculturalism: The choir is a platform for both composers and performers to explore ways to relate to ancestral traditions in a contemporary context. We sing songs from cultures that aren't always in our direct lineage, yet with an ethos as follows: As long as the songs we sing are transmitted orally and in person (AKA we have the vibratory information that comes with the sounds and words) then we can embody and perform that music truthfully. We care about the function of a song, as it gives access to the essence of the information it carries. We are grounded in functional music to the extent that it is transformational: you come to it one person, you leave it a different person. Ceremony needs consent: giving context is essential, especially for sacred music. Should the material be transmitted outside of this ensemble, it shall remain in integrity with this ethos (AKA no out of context or score based transmission for traditional chants).

We are very much looking forward to resonating with you!