On a High Note...

News, stories, and happenings from the Lakeshore Singers.

One Breath at a Time

Posted September 2, 2026

Every new season begins with a breath.

Before we sing the first note, before we shape a phrase or find our place within a chord, we breathe in. It is one of the simplest and most natural things we do—and yet, as singers, we learn that there is nothing insignificant about it.

Breath is the foundation of our sound. It gives a note warmth, energy, shape, and direction. It determines whether a phrase merely reaches its final measure or carries meaning all the way there. When we breathe together, we prepare to sing together—not simply as individual voices following the same music, but as an ensemble with a shared purpose.

At our first rehearsal this season, we were invited to think about our own “why we sing” intentions. The answers to that question may be different for each of us. We may sing because music brings us joy, because it connects us to other people, or because it gives us a place to belong. We may sing to challenge ourselves, to express something we cannot quite put into ordinary words, or to offer something beautiful to our community.

Whatever our individual reasons may be, they become part of the music we make together.

Our intentions can—and should—inform our musicality. If we sing to connect, how do we help a listener feel welcomed into the story of a song? If we sing to bring joy, where can that joy be heard in our tone and seen in our faces? If we sing to express something words alone cannot hold, how do we use dynamics, phrasing, articulation, and breath to communicate it?

Musicality is more than singing the correct notes at the correct time. It is the difference between reciting a sentence and truly meaning it. It asks us to look beyond the notes on the page and consider where a phrase is going, what it wants to say, and why it matters.

And once again, it begins with breath.

A good musical phrase requires us to prepare, take in what we need, and then use it with care. We cannot release all our air at once and expect it to carry us to the end. We learn to support the phrase, conserve where necessary, and trust that another breath is coming.

There is a metaphor for life in that.

There are seasons when life feels like a long musical phrase—when we are not entirely sure we have enough breath to reach the other side. We may want to rush through the difficult measures or wonder whether we can simply skip ahead to the resolution. But music teaches us to stay present. We breathe where we can. We pace ourselves. We listen to the people around us. Sometimes we carry the melody, and sometimes another section carries it while we rest.

We also learn that taking a breath is not the same as stopping.

A breath is part of the phrase, not an interruption of it. It is preparation for what comes next. In both music and life, pausing long enough to breathe can help us return with greater strength, clarity, and intention.

Singing in a chorus reminds us that we do not have to make it through every phrase alone. We breathe together. We watch, listen, adjust, and support one another. Each person brings a different voice and a different reason for singing, but for a little while, we allow those voices and intentions to become part of something larger than any one of us.

As Lakeshore Singers begins this new season, let us carry our “why” into every rehearsal and every performance. Let it shape the way we approach the music, the way we listen to one another, and the way we share our songs with the community.

And when the phrase feels long—on the page or in our lives—we can remember what singing has already taught us:

Prepare. Breathe deeply. Listen to those around you. Offer what you have.

Then take the next phrase, one breath at a time.

Your Tuesday Nights Could Use a Little Harmony

Posted August 19, 2026

There’s something special about the first rehearsal of a new season.

The music is back in our folders. Familiar faces return after the summer break. New singers walk through the door for the first time. And then, somewhere in the middle of that first song, individual voices begin to turn into a choir again.

On Tuesday, September 1, Lakeshore Singers begins a brand-new season — and we’d love for you to be part of it.

Have You Been Thinking About Singing Again?

Maybe you sang in choir in high school or college and haven’t sung with a group in years.

Maybe you sing in the car, around the house, or along with every song you know.

Maybe you recently moved to the area and are looking for a way to meet people and become part of the community.

Or maybe you simply miss making music.

Whatever brings you through the door, you’re welcome here.

Lakeshore Singers is a community chorus made up of people who love to sing. We come from different backgrounds and levels of musical experience, but we share the joy of making music together — and the friendships and community that grow around it.

September Is the Perfect Time to Give Us a Try

Throughout the month of September, prospective first time members are invited to attend rehearsals at no charge before deciding whether they’d like to join.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. Come to a rehearsal, meet us, sing with us, and see if Lakeshore Singers might be your kind of place.

Our fall season will include community sing-outs for a tree dedication and Veterans Day, followed by our Holiday Concert on December 6.

And it all begins with that first rehearsal.

Your Voice Might Be the One We’re Missing

Joining a choir isn’t only about performing.

It’s about having somewhere to go on Tuesday night where people are happy to see you.

It’s about laughing during rehearsal, working on the measure that still isn’t quite right, and finally hearing the harmony click into place.

It’s about learning something new (like belly buttons can breathe!), making friends, challenging yourself, and becoming part of something that none of us could create alone.

So if you’ve been thinking about singing again, consider this your invitation.

Our new season begins Tuesday, September 1. Come sing with us.

We’d love to save you a chair.

Email us at lakeshoresingersil@gmail.com and let us know you're coming!

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse