Joyful Noise (chorus for people with disabilities)
Encyclopedia
Joyful Noise is a chorus of forty adults, ages 17–70, with physical and intellectual disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Founded in 2000 by Director, Allison Fromm, and chorus member, Beth Fromm, the ensemble is hosted by Bancroft, a support program for those with disabilities in southern New Jersey and Delaware. Joyful Noise’s mission is to foster an atmosphere of community, acceptance, and teamwork in which members can discover their voices and express themselves through music. The Joyful Noise Choral Series has been established as part of the chorus’s vision to create new musical repertoire well suited to the spirit and the vocal and musical aptitudes of Joyful Noise and similar ensembles. To launch this series, a grant of 3,500 dollars from the Philadelphia Eagles has made possible the commissioning of new choral compositions by recognized choral composers Chester Alwes, James Bassi, Gerald Cohen, Edie Hill, Rob Kennan, Elliot Levine, J. David Moore, Nick Page
, Alice Parker
, Steven Sametz, and Jon Washburn. Ron Jeffers, editor of Earthsongs Publications, printed the first of these pieces for Joyful Noise’s appearances at regional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association
and Chorus America in 2008, 2009 and 2011. As a result of Joyful Noise's performance at the American Choral Directors Association's 2011 National Conference in Chicago, conductors in several states are developing similar ensembles for singers with disabilities.
Nick Page (composer)
Nick Page is a conductor, composer, and author. He was a conductor of the Chicago Children's Choir from 1983 to 1986. He conducted sing-alongs called "Power Sings" throughout North America. In 1989, he founded The Mystic Chorale in Arlington, Massachusetts, of which he is resident conductor...
, Alice Parker
Alice Parker
Alice Parker is an American composer, arranger and conductor. Many of her arrangements were done in cooperation with Robert Shaw....
, Steven Sametz, and Jon Washburn. Ron Jeffers, editor of Earthsongs Publications, printed the first of these pieces for Joyful Noise’s appearances at regional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association
American Choral Directors Association
The American Choral Directors Association , headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music...
and Chorus America in 2008, 2009 and 2011. As a result of Joyful Noise's performance at the American Choral Directors Association's 2011 National Conference in Chicago, conductors in several states are developing similar ensembles for singers with disabilities.
Performance Highlights
- March 12, 2011 AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATIONAmerican Choral Directors AssociationThe American Choral Directors Association , headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music...
, National Conference Interest Session with Alice ParkerAlice ParkerAlice Parker is an American composer, arranger and conductor. Many of her arrangements were done in cooperation with Robert Shaw....
(Hilton Grand Ballroom, Chicago, IL) - March 11, 2011 CARIBBEAN REEF CONCERT (Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL)
- January 20, 2011 FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE CONCERT & FILM SCREENING (WHYY StudioWHYY-TVFor the former channel 12 in Wilmington, see WVUE .WHYY-TV, channel 12, is a non-commercial educational television station licensed to Wilmington, Delaware, USA...
, Philadelphia, PA) - October 22, 2010 BANCROFT BUTTERFLY BALL (The Westin, Mount Laurel, NJ)
- June 29, 2010 10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA: SINGING FROM THE HEART CHORAL FESTIVAL led by Nick PageNick Page (composer)Nick Page is a conductor, composer, and author. He was a conductor of the Chicago Children's Choir from 1983 to 1986. He conducted sing-alongs called "Power Sings" throughout North America. In 1989, he founded The Mystic Chorale in Arlington, Massachusetts, of which he is resident conductor...
(Katz Jewish Community Center, Cherry Hill, NJ) - March 20, 2010 VOICES OF PHILADELPHIA: ONE FAMILY, hosted by Singing City with Chester Children's Chorus & Northeast High (Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia, PA)
- June 11, 2009 CHORUS AMERICA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Commissioning for the 'Exceptional' Chorus with Edie Hill, Alice ParkerAlice ParkerAlice Parker is an American composer, arranger and conductor. Many of her arrangements were done in cooperation with Robert Shaw....
& Steven Sametz (Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA) - April 30, 2011 AUTISM AWARENESS MEETING, National Anthem for New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine (The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health, Voorhees, NJ)
- February 1, 2009 CELEBRATING BANCROFT IN DELAWARE: BANCROFT’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY SONGBOOK (St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Wilmington, DE)
- December 6, 2008 SONGS OF THE SEASON with ChildrenSong of New Jersey (Garden State Discovery Museum Cherry Hill, NJ)
- May 30, 2008 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE (Delran High School, Delran, NJ)
- April 24, 2008 HARMONY AND HOPE with choruses from The Wardlaw-Hartridge School (Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, Plainfield, NJ)
- February 16, 2008 MISSION TO INSPIRE CONCERT & SING-ALONG (St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, Hartford, CT)
- February 16, 2008 AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION INTEREST SESSION with Alice ParkerAlice ParkerAlice Parker is an American composer, arranger and conductor. Many of her arrangements were done in cooperation with Robert Shaw....
(Hartford Marriott, Hartford, CT) - December 11, 2007 HOLIDAY CONCERT with Kardon Chorale (Voorhees Town Center, Voorhees, NJ)
- September 7, 2008 NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR CAMDEN RIVERSHARKS (Campbell’s Field, Camden, NJ)
- June 24, 2006 OLD TIME ROCK ‘N ROLL (Markeim Art Center, Haddonfield, NJ)
- June 25, 2005 SINGING FOR CHILDREN (Garden State Discovery Museum, Cherry Hill, NJ)
- June 26, 2004 MELODIOUS MEMORIES with Alice ParkerAlice ParkerAlice Parker is an American composer, arranger and conductor. Many of her arrangements were done in cooperation with Robert Shaw....
(First Baptist Church, Haddonfield, NJ) - June 13, 2004 CHILDREN IN SONG (The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA)
- November 3, 2003 THE POWER OF MUSIC PRESENTATION (St. Mary’s College, South Bend, IN)
- JUNE 21, 2003 JOYFUL WINDS OF SONG with The Western Wind (First Baptist Church, Haddonfield, NJ)
- June 5, 2003 CHORUS AMERICA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, “The Power of Music” Presentation (Kansas City, MO)
- February 3, 2003 NEW JERSEY MUSIC EDUCATORS’ CONFERENCE (New Brunswick, NJ)
- July 4, 2002 INDEPENDENCE DAY SING-ALONG (Kresson View Center, Voorhees, NJ)
- April 13, 2002 JOYFUL HARMONY: A FESTIVAL OF SONG with Harmonium Choral Society (First Baptist Church, Haddonfield, NJ)
- December 9, 2001 SHARE THE JOY! with First Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra (First Baptist Church, Haddonfield, NJ)
- September 16, 2000 NEWTON COUNTY ARTS FESTIVAL (Haddonfield, NJ)