Director: Jennie O’Brien
Songweavers is New Hampshire’s original women’s community chorus, open without audition to women and teens. No musical experience or note-reading is required.
Songweavers is a force of nature, driven by the passion and power of each singer joined in harmony with toe-tapping percussion.
Songweavers is also a coming-together of spirit and heart through music.Based on the belief that everyone can sing, members of this large women’s chorus learn songs by rote, in the African-American tradition; music-reading skills are not a prerequisite.
Songweavers meets Tuesdays from 9:30-11:00 a.m. and 6:30-8:00 p.m. Singers are welcome to attend one or both rehearsals each week.
The Songweavers present an annual spring concert. The repertoire includes music from many ethnic traditions. The singing is predominantly a cappella, although drums and other instruments are often used as accompaniment.
Songweavers scholarships may be available. Ask about our Mother/Daughter/Family rate!
If you are a current or returning chorus member, please click the button below to register for the fall semester or full year
Our History:
Begun 30+ years ago by Carolyn Parrott for women who were afraid to sing, it has grown into a joyous chorus of kindred souls. Peggo Horstmann Hodes led the chorus for 12 years, and retired as director in May 2023. Jennie O’Brien, voice faculty and department chair came aboard as director starting in fall of 2023.
Everyone can sing; it’s a human birthright.
When we sing, it makes us happy. It’s a whole body experience. The vibrations the Songweavers make together as a group are transformative, for individual and group alike.
Our Aural Tradition:
All of our music is learned by ear, in the traditional style of call and response. Our Director sings each part, and chorus members sing it back. Before long, the chorus is singing in four-part harmony, accompanied occasionally by piano and always with the drive of African style drums. To help women learn the parts, recordings are available for each individual part as well as the whole song.
For information about our Songweaver Drummers program, click here.
