Friday, July 17, 2020—Moved by the breadth of the pandemic and effect on society, one of the world’s most performed composers, Eric Whitacre, composed a new piece especially for his Virtual Choir – “Sing Gently”. 17,572 singers from 129 countries, aged 5–88, recorded their videos to be combined to form Virtual Choir 6. Together they found strength in the simple, collective initiative of the project and saw it as a way to not only replenish from within but also to offer hope and relief for the sadness and suffering of others. This marks Whitacre’s largest Virtual Choir to date since his first more than 10 years ago. It is a testament to diversity, accessibility, and inclusivity, and much more than a musical project; it’s a community.
Quote from Eric: “With everyone unexpectedly far apart from each other I found myself thinking about the virtues of empathy, community, and service, and a new Virtual Choir felt like a deeply human way to address all of those virtues. I tried as best I could to keep the lyrics of ‘Sing Gently’ straightforward and unadorned, to simply say what I felt needed to be said.”
When: Sunday, July 19
Time: 10:30 am PDT
How to watch: Watch live on composer Eric Whitacre’s You Tube channel (click below)
