We have our monthly shape note singing every second Sunday, usually from 2-5 at Christ Episcopal Church in Montpelier out of the Sacred Harp. Shape note music is a participatory a capella singing form that originated in New England 225 years ago and has been sung in Central Vermont for the past 40 or so years by folks intrigued by the history of the form and those moved by the haunting harmonies and spiritual nature of the words. ‘Shape Note’ refers to the notation style which uses shapes in the place of round notes, which was originally a teaching device for learning to sight read music. Anyone is welcome, regardless of singing experience.

This month will be special as we will be having a singing school presented by Ian and Chelsea Smiley, which will begin at 1pm. They will talk about some of the finer points of the style and fielding questions in advance of the 42nd New England Sacred Harp Convention which will be taking place the 30th of September and the 1st of October at the Contois Auditorium in Burlington.

Here's a short intro video from a documentary featuring Chelsea and Ian, there are many good 'live' examples on youtube as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4o_cNEDqgY

Jan 18, 9 PM to 12 AM, Jan 19, 2025

Jan 23, 2025, 6 to 8 PM

Jan 24, 2025, 10:30 to 11:30 AM