Community choir marks 10th anniversary of singing for cause

The voices that make up the Crown of the Continent Choir are varied.

Some are young and some are more experienced, while some of the singers have musical background and others enjoy the music as a hobby. But they all share a common passion for singing together and sharing choral music with others.

“Singing is fun,” says longtime member Dawn Cope. “It fills a deep need to express joy and wonder and feel alive in a way that I don’t get elsewhere. There’s also a really good feeling of community, signing and breathing that brings us all together.”

The Crown of the Continent Choir is a non-audition community choir of about 40 local singers that focuses on inspirational and upbeat choral music. The choir is marking its 10th season this year as it begins rehearsals on Wednesday, Sept. 11, and has a full season of concerts ahead scheduled throughout the Flathead Valley.

The choir also includes the Headwaters Ensemble, a smaller audition group that focuses on more challenging music.

Choral director Marvi Davis says the music that comes from the choir is unique because it’s a blend of voices regardless of ability.

“Anybody who can talk can learn to sing if they want to,” Davis said.

In selecting music, Davis selects songs carefully.

“I try to choose music that we can connect to and the audience can connect to,” she said. “We try to sing songs that touch to the heart of who we are and what’s happening in the world.”

Randy Carspecken, joined the choir at his wife Dawn Cope’s insistence, though he’s not a natural singer. He says the group is an eclectic variety of voices that all come together. He points out that it can often be difficult to learn a musical instrument, but signing can come more easily.

“The cool thing to do as a group is to give the best expression of humanity through choral music,” he said. “I believe we’re all socially hard-wired for music and this provides an outlet for everyone musically.”

The choir began when several churches in Kalispell were without a choir of their own. Flathead High School teacher Kevin Allen-Schmid formed the group visiting several churches to perform, and eventually the choir began to perform at outside events and now holds several concerts throughout the Flathead Valley in addition to singing at retirement communities and with high school choirs.

Every spring the Crown Choir holds a concert at the O’Shaughnessy Center, taking donations for its operations, but at every other concert it performs taking donations for other organizations.

“Every place we go we make a donation back,” Davis said. “We gave away about $2,000 last year. “We’re a philanthropic choir — that’s become a mission of ours to give back.”

Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Flathead High School choir room. For more information, visit crownchoir.org or call 862-1424.