ECHO CHOIR

ECHO IS A STRONG VARIED AND VIBRANT CHOIR THAT CULTIVATES THE BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL SOUND OF ADULT WOMEN'S VOICES AND TAKES GREAT JOY IN SINGING TOGETHER AND IN SHARING A RICH AND DIVERSE REPERTOIRE.THE MUSIC ECHO SINGS REFLECTS THEMES OF JOY STRUGGLE RESISTANCE AND LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND THE EARTH. OUR 'PROGRAMS' INCLUDES: WORKSHOPS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC LED BY WELL-KNOWN CANADIAN ARTISTS WHO COMBINE MUSIC WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE; ECHO PARTICIPATION IN GRASSROOTS EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY SINGING SONGS IN DIVERSE LANGUAGES OR MUSIC THAT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY; PRESENTATIONS IN COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS MUSIC EVENTS AT FARMERS MARKETS NURSING HOMES AND 'WALKS'. THE TWO MAIN EVENTS FOR THE CHOIR ARE THE WINTER AND SPRING CONCERTS WHICH USUALLY INCLUDES A GUEST ARTIST(S) AND IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH DISCOUNTED ADMISSION FEES FOR SENIORS AND STUDENTS. ECHO CONTINUES WORKING WITH GUEST ARTIST TO PRODUCE DIGITAL CONTENT THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ON ITS WEBSITE. YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND FACEBOOK. ECHO HAS DEVELOPED A FUNDRAISING PROGRAM THAT AIMS AT RAISING FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A SLIDING SCALE FOR MEMBERSHIP FEES AND CONCERT TICKETS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY FULL FEES PROVIDING MEMBERSWITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS BE PART OF A COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATE DIVERSITY.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE OF THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HAS DEVELOPED A WORKING PLAN THAT FOCUSED ON REACHING OUT TO NEW AUDIENCES AND AT POPULAR SITES TO INCREASE AND DIVERSIFY MEMBERSHIP. ALSO WORKSHOPS HAVE ALSO BEEN REDESIGNED IN ORDER ATTRACT A YOUNGER AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE. ECHO HAS ALSO INCREASED ITS FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES AND A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING CONCERT WITH LOCAL MUSICIANS HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE FUNDRAISING PROGRAM. THIS CONCERT IS PROMOTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THOUGH OTHER PLATFORMS SUCH AS CHOIRS' NEWSLETTERS AND POSTERS PLACED AT LOCAL LIBRAIRIES AND CAFES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.