Press release:
This spring, the Southern Appalachian Mountains will come alive with the sound of song during the sixth annual Singing Alive Appalachia gathering. The newly founded La Finca Farm on the South Toe River in Celo will host the magical, melodic gathering.
Over four days, May 31-June 3, more than 30 songleaders will lead workshops ranging from choral harmonies to playful improvisation. Many of these people have dedicated their lives to the art of ‘song catching’ and teaching songs to groups. We are honored to host two Appalachian traditional folk song and story catchers, whose families have been rooted here in WNC for at least seven generations: Sheila Kay Adams and Judy Ann Rhodes.
Singing Alive Appalachia is open to everyone, regardless of their singing experience, in a spirit of inclusivity and gathering as a community around song. Singing Alive is about participation. It’s not a series of performances; everyone is encouraged to raise their voice and be heard, to feel the effects of being an integral part of a cohesive whole.
“Singing Alive is a family; it’s a place to feel at home, to share songs that nourish your soul,” said Alinahh Ever, who brought the gathering to the east after learning about the seed gathering in Oregon, Singing Alive Cascadia. “I was so excited to bring the magic of this gathering to Appalachia, where there is such a strong musical tradition,” said Ever.
Singing together in groups is growing in popularity as an ancient technology human beings carry for weaving resilient communities. Research from the University of Oxford has shown that singing together has an ice-breaker effect: people who sing together feel closer to one another within a couple of hours than people doing other creative activities together. Group singing has also been found to cause the release of oxytocin, a neurotransmitter associated with trust and bonding.
Morgan Brent, founder of Singing Alive Cascadia, believes that singing together is “subtle activism, nourishment for a spiritually hungry world.” He wanted to create ceremonial space with the gatherings, a place where people can feel safe to be themselves. “A lot of power is raised with people singing together; it is a way of connecting to your body and heart,” said Brent.
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