A: We're always looking for new members! We're making a special effort right now because the choir is currently uncomfortably small. Getting some more singers would make it easier for us to do a wider variety of repertoire. It would also mean that one person missing choir on a given Sunday wouldn't have as big an impact.

Q: Do I need to be a trained singer to sing in the Mindekirken Choir?

A: Not at all! The Mindekirken Choir is an all-volunteer group that is open to anyone who would like to sing with us. We are happy to work with anyone at any level of skill and experience. The only real requirements are a desire to sing and willingness to attend rehearsals and performances. We will provide assistance as needed for anyone who wants to sing with us.

Q: Do I need to know Norwegian to sing in the Mindekirken Choir?

A: It wouldn't hurt, but it is definitely not a requirement. Many of our current choir members do not speak Norwegian. Just as we will help with singing issues, we will provide assistance and training for non-Norwegian speakers to help them be comfortable singing Norwegian texts. Also, keep in mind that we sing quite a bit in English, Latin, and occasional other languages.

Q: What if I sing by ear but can't read music?

A: The way Dawn conducts our rehearsals makes it easy to pick up your part by ear. We've had members you would tell you they couldn't read a note but were nonetheless wonderful contributors. Finally, if you'd like to learn to read music as part of being in choir, some of us will be happy to help.

Q: When does the choir sing?

A: We sing during the school year, basically September through May. Most of our singing is done at the 11 AM Sunday Norwegian Service. We occasionally sing at the 9 AM English Service, and there may be a special concert or other event that is outside the normal Sunday morning performance. We usually sing 3 or 4 Sunday mornings per month, meaning that we generally take one Sunday a month off.

Q: What about rehearsals?

A: We rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8:30 PM. On the Sunday mornings when we sing for 11 o'clock service we usually get together at 10:15 to warm up and run through that morning's piece a couple of times.

Q: What if I can't make it every Sunday?

A: If we know what your schedule is we can work with it. We have members who are out of town some Sundays or Thursdays, or have to work occasionally on a Sunday morning. This is not a disqualifying factor. Especially as we grow in size, individual absences are easier to work around.

Q: OK, I'm interested. Who should I talk to?

A: You can talk to Dawn Sonntag, our Choir Director, or any member of the choir. Or you can email us at music@mindekirken.org. Or just show up for a Thursday night rehearsal. We're trying to make it easy for you, because we think that once you try it you'll have a lot of fun. We look forward to seeing you soon!