In 2004, a group of people came together with a simple goal: “To change the world, just a little bit.” From that humble inception seven years ago, Nashville in Harmony has grown to become one of the finest ensemble choruses in Tennessee.
Made up of LGBT members and supportive allies, they are dedicated to “using music to build community and create social change."
For the past year, the theme for Nashville in Harmony has been “A Home For Us All," and the group has focused on marginalized communities in the region. The group has visited areas like Memphis and Chattanooga, lifting spirits with their voices as well as rolling up their sleeves and volunteering time and effort in support of the places they have visited.
The efforts culminated in an October concert at Room In The Inn, where the group donned full formal outfits, and treated the guests there to an all-out expression of the choral arts. The concert so touched one of the guests, Anthony Herring, that he penned a poem in response to the concert:
A gift from last night's concert at Room in the Inn: God, I heard a choir that brought peace to my soul. They sang songs of today and songs of old. The harmony was spectacular and I absorbed every note. I wish everyone could have attended from coast to coast. From Motown to Africa everyone was represented. The more I listened, the more my spirit was replenished. I truly wish they could come back tomorrow, so I can run and tell everyone and possibly heal a portion of their sorrows. Lord, thank you for sending this beautiful choir our way. Please continue to bless them, each and every one, on this blessed day. Amen
Julie Reliford, the marketing chair of Nashville in Harmony, glows with pride as she recounts the efforts made by the group to help brighten the days of those often in the margins of our communities.
“I believe we are doing great things as evidenced by (Anthony's note)," she says, “That’s why I sing.”
Nashville in Harmony’s current season will end with their holiday concert “Fruitcake!," performed at Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Polk Theater on Thursday, Dec. 15. Expect pop, classical, jazz, and seasonal music, along with a lot fun--and a few surprises! You can purchase tickets on the Nashville in Harmony website.