BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH PRODID:-//hacksw/handcal//NONSGML v1.0//EN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20261101T101339Z DTSTART:20261107T093000Z DTEND:20261108T160000Z UID:20261107T093000Z-20261108T160000Z-59@firstinversion.org SUMMARY:Rochester Intergenerational Choir Day 2026 DESCRIPTION:Sing\, learn\, connect\nDuring this biennial free event\, singers will work with three well-known local clinicians: Dr. Lee Wrig ht\, scholar of the American Negro Spiritual\, composer/conductors Jon athan Thomas Madden and Dr. Philip E. Silvey. There will be breakout sessions of Singers Yoga with Dr. Sandra Sluberski and Singers Dancing with Shana Kohler.\n\nDr. Lee Wright will begin by introducing choral improvisation techniques using American Negro Spirituals taught by ro te. This practice encourages singers to both connect with the origin o f these songs and to let their own life experience create part of the living fabric of this important American folk music. Wright is directo r of the Rochester choral ensemble First Inversion\, Director of Music Ministry\, Downtown United Presbyterian Church\, and Director of Choi rs at the University of Rochester.\n\nChoirs will work with Rochester native conductor\, composer\, and church musician Jonathan Thomas Madd en to prepare his newly commissioned work specially written for this e vent. You’ll be able to bring that piece back to your chorus performan ce-ready. Madden is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Choral Conductin g at the University of Michigan.\n\nA composer whose compositions have become beloved standards of contemporary choral literature\, Dr. Phil ip E. Silvey will work with RICD singers on his new composition-to-tak e-home and perform\, “Walking Temples of Noise”. Silvey is Professor o f Music Teaching and Learning at the Eastman School of Music where he directs the Treble Chorus and teaches undergraduate and graduate cours es in music education.\nDr. Sandra Sluberski will offer sessions of Si ngers Yoga\, incorporating physical stretches which align your body’s posture for optimal sound production\, and mantra chanting\, which ali gns your mental processes for better concentration and stress reductio n. A 42-year professional vocalist and vocal coach\, she is also a lon gtime yoga instructor\, Kirtan leader and Sound Bath specialist.\n\nDu ring exhilarating breakout sessions\, Shana Kohler will be dancing wit h our younger singers as well as adults who’d like to jump in. Kohler has been teaching elementary general music classes and youth choruses since 2002. She teaches Stepping Stones (ages 4 and 5) at Hochstein an d directs the Hochstein Little Singers.\n\nThe day will end with an in formal performance for the public. Participants will take home invalua ble experience in improvisational performance practice of spirituals p lus two performance-ready works\, each with a message that speaks to D iversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion.\n\nFirst Inversion is proud to be A rtists in Residence with Arts Link at Downtown Presbyterian Church\, p artnering in ministry to build Beloved Community. As always\, the conc erts are offered as a gift to the community\, with suggested donations of $25\, or $10 for students\, to support First Inversion’s work. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Sing\, learn\, connect
\nDuring thi s biennial free event\, singers will work with three well-known local clinicians: Dr. Lee Wright\, scholar of the American Negro Spiritual\, composer/conductors Jonathan Thomas Madden and Dr. Philip E. Silvey. There will be breakout sessions of Singers Yoga with Dr. Sandra Slube rski and Singers Dancing with Shana Kohler.

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Dr. Lee Wright wil l begin by introducing choral improvisation techniques using American Negro Spirituals taught by rote. This practice encourages singers to b oth connect with the origin of these songs and to let their own life e xperience create part of the living fabric of this important American folk music. Wright is director of the Rochester choral ensemble First Inversion\, Director of Music Ministry\, Downtown United Presbyterian Church\, and Director of Choirs at the University of Rochester.

\n< p>Choirs will work with Rochester native conductor\, composer\, and ch urch musician Jonathan Thomas Madden to prepare his newly commissioned work specially written for this event. You’ll be able to bring that p iece back to your chorus performance-ready. Madden is currently pursui ng a Doctorate in Choral Conducting at the University of Michigan.

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A composer whose compositions have become beloved standards of co ntemporary choral literature\, Dr. Philip E. Silvey will work with RIC D singers on his new composition-to-take-home and perform\, “Walking T emples of Noise”. Silvey is Professor of Music Teaching and Learning a t the Eastman School of Music where he directs the Treble Chorus and t eaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education.
\nDr. Sandra Sluberski will offer sessions of Singers Yoga\, incorporating physical stretches which align your body’s posture for optimal sound p roduction\, and mantra chanting\, which aligns your mental processes f or better concentration and stress reduction. A 42-year professional v ocalist and vocal coach\, she is also a longtime yoga instructor\, Kir tan leader and Sound Bath specialist.

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During exhilarating brea kout sessions\, Shana Kohler will be dancing with our younger singers as well as adults who’d like to jump in. Kohler has been teaching elem entary general music classes and youth choruses since 2002. She teache s Stepping Stones (ages 4 and 5) at Hochstein and directs the Hochstei n Little Singers.

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The day will end with an informal performanc e for the public. Participants will take home invaluable experience in improvisational performance practice of spirituals plus two performan ce-ready works\, each with a message that speaks to Diversity\, Equity \, and Inclusion.

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First Inversion is proud to be Artists in Re sidence with Arts Link at Downtown Presbyterian Church\, partnering in ministry to build Beloved Community. As always\, the concerts are off ered as a gift to the community\, with suggested donations of $25\, or $10 for students\, to support First Inversion’s work.

\n URL:https://firstinversion.org/events/rochester-intergenerational-choi r-day-2026/?lang=en ATTACH:https://firstinversion.org/events/rochester-intergenerational-c hoir-day-2026/?lang=en ATTACH:https://i0.wp.com/firstinversion.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11 /Together-We-Sing-2026-Flyer.1-e1793511068405.webp?resize=150%2C150&ss l=1 LOCATION:Downtown United Presbyterian Church\, 121 N. Fitzhugh St.\, R ochester\, NY\, 14614\, END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR