Our Vision:
"Become the beacon of joyous, inclusive, and captivating a cappella harmony in Maine." The Downeasters Chorus is one of the top musical performing organizations in New England. We are a part of the Barbershop Harmony Society (barbershop.org), a musical art form with genuine American roots and a style that embraces singers of all levels. Today, barbershop harmony includes mainstream a c
appella vocals heard in groups such as Pentatonix, Straight No Chaser, and others. Our singing is four-part close harmony with rich emotional melodies designed to captivate our audiences. We sing gorgeous ballads, toe-tapping swing songs, and vivacious up-tunes where our performers move on the risers with a stage presence unique to choral performing. Our audiences and members give to our community through performances, fundraising events, and charitable donations to worthy causes. The Downeasters welcome singers of all musical abilities. There is no formal audition or musical background requirement to sing with us. Our music team is skilled in working with new members that simply wish to sing and perform for audiences. And while we are dedicated to high achievement in music, we also have a fellowship and camaraderie that both fosters new friendships and is highly supportive of individual challenges in day-to-day living. Our members come from all walks of life; students, professionals, tradespeople, and energetic retirees with rich life experiences. Our culture consists of a diverse group of folks who bond together by one fervent passion: we love to sing and we believe that changing lives through music is worth the hard work and determination asked of the music team. We work hard individually outside of rehearsal to learn the notes and words of our songs. Professionally recorded learning tracks and sheet music help even the newest singer quickly contribute to the ensemble. At weekly rehearsal we then spend time molding our individual abilities into a holistic art form. Come try The Downeasters on for size, and see if you like what you see, hear, and feel. A member will greet you when you arrive and ask how we can help you enjoy the evening. If we all sing a little more, the world will be a better place. We are funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
