COVID-19 has presented new challenges for singers in our community. We wish to
bring our message to others in a new and exciting venue, the "Virtual Choir"
setting. In an effort to continue, the following 10 minute video link will
help explain how to participate. Then enter your information in the
"Volunteer" section on this page.
Click Here for The Virtual Choir
Outreach Singers is a Community Service Group. The
volunteers bring a seasonal message of hope and inspiration
in
familiar
songs when visiting hospitals, senior care centers, those who are shut-in, home
bound, the ill, or immobile. Volunteers who "give back" this way as well as
those
visited are enriched and their lives enhanced.
Outreach Singers welcome adults as well as families with children and
encourages both home and public school children to experience singing in a
choir. Additionally, it fosters an understanding of "Giving Back" to your
community.
Outreach Singers is an
Easy, Fun, and Enjoyable
volunteer group.
Even if you wish you had a better singing voice, this volunteer group is
without judgment.
Although it is important to always do our best,
Our Message of Hope
and Inspiration is Most Important.
If you or someone you know would appreciate an uplifting message of hope
and inspiration in song, please tell us by using the form,
"Referrals,"
on this page or click the word
[Referrals]
in the menu bar.
COVID-19 has presented new challenges for singers in our community. We wish to
bring our message to others in a new and exciting venue, the "Virtual Choir"
setting. In an effort to continue, the following 10 minute video link will
help explain how to participate.
As Virtual Choir grows, we can add repertoire, e.g., Vivaldi, Mozart,
Williams, Forest etc.
After watching the video below, please go to
[Volunteer]
sign up. You will then receive an email with all the particulars.
Thanks again and see you on the other side!
Video by Jeff & Renee Haswell
Even if you wish you had a better singing voice, this volunteer group is
without judgment.
Although it is important to always do our best,
Our Message of Hope
and Inspiration is Most Important.
If you or someone you know would appreciate an uplifting message of hope
and inspiration in song, please tell us by using the form,
"Referrals,"
on this page or click the word
[Referrals]
in the menu bar.
Over the years the number of volunteers with the Outreach Singers group has
varied in any one year between 10 and 40 people. When we deliver our message
of hope and inspiration, 8 to 12 volunteers are necessary at any one
visitation. Not every volunteer is needed at each visitation and this
flexibility makes it easy for volunteers to participate. Each year as Outreach
Singers reorganizes, it grows and improves. Live visitations are best kept at
25 to 35 minutes.
And Remain Positive Always!
Rehearsal goals are always kept in mind
We use
Simple and Easy 4-part music.
Songs
familiar
to everyone.
Rehearsals are a cappella so:
we can pitch the melody to fit most singers' voices,
help those with limited range sing an easy harmony part,
encourage singers to listen to each other and blend, and
it builds confidence in singing.
Make the
melody dominant and easy
for most singers.
Because the music is simple and easy, we
make it Fun to Sing
.
With above practices we
keep the sound good, clean, and in-tune
.
Rehearsals are held to 60 to 90 minutes.
Refreshments and social time for 10 minutes after rehearsal.
Rehearse only enough to be audience acceptable.
Keep it Fun and Worry Free!
Here Is My Request to Become a Volunteer!
A Volunteer: a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or
undertake a task.
To Volunteer: freely offer to do somethin.
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual
or group provides services for no financial or social gain "to benefit another
person, group or organization".
Wikipedia
Our Mission --
bring a message of hope and inspiration in familiar songs
to those hospitalized, in senior care facilities, group homes, shut-ins or home
bound, the ill, and immobile. We wish to enrich and enhance the lives of those
who sing as well as those we visit.
Jeffrey Haswell, after
graduating from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in
1972 with a bachelor's degree in voice and music
education, obtained a livetime
teaching certificate with the State of Wisconsin and began teaching music in
the Marinette Public School in
Marinette, WI. In 1975 he took a choral and
instrumental music teaching position in the Whitewater Public
Schools in
Whitewater, WI.
While teaching in the local schools, he periodically held a
University Summer Camp honorarium position for
Swing & Jazz Choirs as well as
completing two Masters degrees; one in Kodaly Music Education and second with
emphasis in Choral Conducting.
Upon completion of the
Masters degrees in 1981 and with a desire obtain a
Doctorate in Music Conducting, he completed and passed the
initial application
process
and entrence examination for a Phd program to Columbia University in
New York. But later in 1982 felt he
needed a break from further education and
put Phd aspirations on hold indefinitely. He never rekindled
interest to obtain
the Phd,
but has always enjoyed directing choirs, jazz choirs, bands and
orchestras.
While studying voice as an undergraduate, he spent two summers in New York
City with Bernard U Taylor, renowned opera singer and vocal instructor, editor
publisher and retired Choral Department Chairperson at Juilliard School of
Music.
From 1972 through 1996, Jeffrey Haswell traveled on eight concert tours to
Europe as a singer, soloist and chorus director. He has concertized in
Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Belgium, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia,
Switzerland, and Austria.
After moving to
California he formed and lead the "Stony Ridge Ramblers", a
successful eight piece dixieland jazz band,
in the San Francisco Bay Area. For
14 years, he performed with this group for County Fairs, Chamber of
Commerice
events,
private & company christmas parties, attorney association parties,
senior living communities,
Pleasanton Community Concert Series, and
Livermore Community Concert Series.
As a Baritone, from
1982 thru 1986 he performed with the
"Valley Concert Chorale"
the Tri-Valley's
premier community chorus serving the Pleasanton, Livermore
and Castro Valleys. During that time he
also performed with the
San Francisco Bach Choir
at Davies Symphony
Hall. Then from 1996 thru 2005, he performed as
a Tenor with
"Voices of Musica Sacra"
a semi-professional
community chorus in Walnut Creek, CA. Voices of Musica
Sacra is now know
"Diablo Choral Artists"
.
Most recently, from
October 2011 through September 2013, he has served as Choir
Director for traditional church
services at Stallion Springs Community
Church. From January 2014 thru September 2015 directed
choir for Shepherd of
The Hills church in Bear Valley Springs.
In 2014, he
formed an outreach group of singers with a purpose to enhance and
enrich the lives of both the
singers in the group and those individuals who are
shut-in/immobile, in senior care facilities,
and hospitals. The outreach group
continues to grow and enrich people's lives.
He performs
with the Tehachapi Symphony Chorus, The Summit Singers, and sings
solos, duets, and in quartets
for local church services.
To get in touch with the organizer,
Jeffrey Haswell, you can use either
the "Easy Message Form" below
or the email address on the right.
These forms are "Spam Proof"
and very easy to use.
Ask any questions or
just send a message.
"Spam Free"
Use this form to write to us . . .
Email, Phones, U.S.P.S.,
Rehearsal Time & Location