SING WITH SANS

changing the world, one song at a time

SANS sings to celebrate the human spirit, build connections at home and abroad, and experience the joys of singing together in community. Whether it’s a regular weekly rehearsal or a concert far from home, singing with SANS will lift your spirit and expand your world. Join us!

Why an application process?
SANS has been blessed with a surge in interest and number of singers in recent years, but we've learned that SANS works best as a medium-sized choir.  For the first time, the SANS Board of Directors has decided to cap the number of singers to make sure we maintain our sense of community, values and mission.

Is SANS right for you?
Please review the information on this page about the SANS season, mission, values and expectations of singers. If you think you’d be a good fit, please fill out the singer application as soon as possible. The application deadline is August 22.

About SANS - 2025-2026

Rehearsals begin: Thursday, September 11, 7:00-9:00 pm
Calvary Methodist Church, 300 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA
Rehearsals continue on Thursdays from September through May, with a break in December. Exact dates are TBD.

Our 2025-26 season will include: Concerts in December and May, plus special events during the year, including a Gospel Sing at Belmont Hill School, our annual Women’s Day concert at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in March, a fabulous Winter Gala Cabaret, and the SANS Walk for Music in the Spring.

Repertoire: Our music includes a wide range of styles, including pop, rhythm & blues, gospel, classical, traditional “choral” and a variety of world music traditions.

The Music Team: SANS is blessed to have a dynamic team that works together to select, teach and lead our music: Donnell Patterson, Music Director; Kilian Mooney, Assistant Director; Louise Grasmere, Vocal Coach; and Linda Shoemaker, Songleader (and Administrative Director). You can learn more about our music team here.

Expectations: SANS is a non-auditioned choir, but we expect that singers can match pitch and rhythm in a choral setting, and agree to attend weekly rehearsals, memorize our music and sing off-book in concerts.

Teaching & Learning Music: Some music is taught by ear, with or without lyric sheets. Some music is taught from printed scores. Some will be a combination of the two! Because we travel all over the world, we regularly sing songs in multiple languages. Reading music is not required to succeed in SANS, but you will need to plan some practice time at home to supplement weekly rehearsals. Practice recordings are sometimes provided for more challenging songs, but we strongly suggest bringing your own recording device to take charge of your own learning.

Maintaining a positive sense of community:
SANS values maintaining a positive and mutually supportive sense of community among singers, staff, board and musical leadership.  We value lifting each other up and maintaining flexibility, patience and good humor when navigating the inevitable "bumps in the road" that come with choir life, both at home and on tour.

As part of our mission, SANS travels each year to sing with choirs around the world, building bonds of friendship and mutual understanding. This is at the core of who we are as a chorus and community. Not all singers travel every year. If you are unable to travel, you can still experience the SANS mission of connecting through music in multiple events throughout the year.

Attendance policy:
Singers are required to attend weekly rehearsals and dress rehearsals. Singers are asked to miss no more than 2 in-person rehearsals in the fall, 3 in the spring. Attendance at Dress Rehearsal is mandatory. Exceptions due to illness or extenuating circumstances may be discussed with the music staff.

Singer Communications:
SANS sends weekly emails with key info and maintains a members-only section of our website with learning resources, including lyrics, audio clips and videos. Singers are expected to use these resources as they are made available.

Health Protocols:
Singers with any cold/flu/Covid symptoms are asked to stay home and participate via livestream. Masks are optional at rehearsals and concerts. If we experience a Covid outbreak, or circumstances change, the SANS Board may ask singers to wear masks for a period of time.

Calendar

Please save these dates!

Thursday, September 11, 7:00-9:00pm: Rehearsals begin
Social hour and check-in begins at 6:15
Calvary Methodist Church
300 Mass Ave, Arlington MA 02476

Thursday, September 18, 6:15-7:00pm: New Singer Welcome Reception
On the front lawn at Calvary
A fun, social time to get to know each other, with snacks & drinks!
Rain date: September 25

Saturday, December 6, 7:30pm: Fall Concert
First Parish Unitarian Universalist
630 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476

Thursday, January 8, 7:00-9:00pm: Rehearsals resume

Sunday in March: St John’s Women’s Day Concert & Celebration
St John’s Missionary Baptist Church
230 Warren Street, Boston MA 02119

2nd annual SANS Walk for Music: TBD/Spring
Fun fundraising walk for the SANS Travel Scholarships

Spring Concert: TBD, likely a Saturday in May

Trip Rehearsals: 3 Thursday evenings in June, and one Saturday, TBD

SANS Tour 2026: Ghana, West Africa

In late June/early July, SANS will embark on a singing tour of Ghana, performing, learning and exchanging with choirs throughout this vibrant, friendly country with a HUGE choral singing tradition. We are working with the tour company Music Contact International to organize this trip. They have led dozens of choir groups to Ghana over 40 years. We are thrilled to be planning this amazing tour with them. Trip Registration will open in November.

NOTE: You do not need to travel to sing in the chorus.

To view our preliminary itinerary: CLICK HERE

Trip Overview & Highlights:

Timing: 10-11 days in late June/early July

Destinations: Accra, Elmina, Kumasi

Music will include:
* Several concerts and open-air church services, collaborating with multiple Ghanaian choirs
* Hands-on drumming workshop
* Impromptu village performance
* Music workshop with Ghanaian Professor

Activities will include:
* Guided Tours of Accra (political capital) and Kumasi (cultural capital)
* Kakum National Park: Coastal Savana Lush jungle forests, includes walk on canopy ropeway
* Cape Coast Castle: “Point of no return” during Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, now a UNESCO world heritage site.
* Manhyia Palace, home of the leader of the Asante Kingdom and other sites related to the Asante Kingdom
* Visit to the village known as the home of Kente weaving – see demos, option to shop for cloth and crafts
* Traditional village visit, including impromptu singing, naming ceremony, drum & dance

Cost: $4600-$5000, all-inclusive. This includes 3 meals a day in hotels & restaurants that cater to Westerners. Tuition assistance is available.

Questions? Want to join our Mailing List?