Heartbreak.
Where were you on March 11th when images from Japan literally and figuratively flooded the media? We saw entire towns disappear, homes break apart, and lives shatter. Wherever you were when you saw these reports, surely you stopped, looked and listened in total disbelief. The human toll of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami is now etched on the faces of the survivors: their pain, their dignity, their patience, their hope. Each of us aches to help.
Healing.
Many choirs, singers and conductors wonder what we could do to respond to this very human tragedy. Could we somehow connect? Could our singing together make a difference? What if we ‘surrounded’ our Japanese friends with our singing, perhaps organize a concert and donate the money to Japanese relief? And . . . what if we had choral music from Japan to sing?!? That’s the conversation that choral friends Marian (The Choir Project, USA) and Marjolein (Wishful Singing), The Netherlands) had on Facebook one day. From that chat, the idea of Sing for Japan was born. Japanese composer/conductor Ko Matsushita was contacted and agreed enthusiastically to participate. The three of us, along with Sherri (Lasko Design) and Kela formed the Sing for Japan team. Now we bring our idea to you, our choral friends . . .
Hope… sing!
To raise funds and promote unity of the choral world for Japan relief efforts, renowned composer-conductor Ko Matsushita has generously donated four choral pieces to the Sing for Japan project. When you or your choir make a donation, you can request a score of your choice as a “thank you” gift! Sing for Japan is choirs around the world saying with one voice, “you are not alone!” Will your choir join with us to literally become a voice of hope, healing and encouragement to those whose lives were affected by the tragedy in the earthquake and tsunami-stricken area of Japan? Choral singing is all about community.
Let’s show the world just how powerful our global choral community really is!
- Marian, Marjolein, Ko, Sherri and Kela
Here’s how you can Help…
Step 1: Donate –> Step 2: Choose a score –> Step 3: Submit request
Step 1: Donate
Look at the Donation Categories listed below. Decide how much to donate. Go to the Sing for Japan Donate page. Choose a listed charity and make your donation. Or choose another charity doing relief work in Japan and make your donation.
Donation categories:
#1- Donation by an individual or by a choir
• Donation by an individual: minimum = $10 / 10€ / 1,000¥
• Donation by a choir: suggested $1 / 1€ / 100¥ per singer
(a minimum total of = $10 / 10€ / 1,000¥)
• Receive: One (1) score of your choice; use of the Sing for Japan logos; your name or ensemble listed on the Sing for Japan Participants list.
#2- Organize a concert for Japan relief
If you already held a concert, you can still participate!
• Donate, or pledge to donate, the concert proceeds to a charity for Japan relief
• Receive: One (1) score of your choice; the Sing for Japan logos for use in your publicity, programs, T-shirts, website, avitar, etc.; an invitation to add your concert photos/audio/video on the Sing for Japan Facebook page; your ensemble listed on the Sing for Japan Participats list, with your choir’s name hot-linked to its website; the addition of your ensemble to a Google map showing all of the participating choirs and concerts worldwide.
• Bonus: If you raise and donate $1,000 / 1,000€ / 100,000¥ or more, you will receive everything in #2 above plus: Your choice of a second score; and one of your selected scores signed by the composer and mailed to you!
Step 2: Choose a Score
Visit the Scores page for information about Ko’s scores including voicings, texts, timings, audio/video and sample scores!
Step 3: Submit Request
Visit the Submit Request page, fill out the online request form, and click the ‘submit’ button (lower right corner of form). That’s it! We will email a pdf of your score along with a link to the logos. It’s that easy!
Facebook Participating choirs can post their photos, videos and ideas on the Sing for Japan Facebook page. We hope this will be a source of inspiration and creativity to participating choirs. And that it will also be a source of encouragement to those whose lives were affected by this tragedy – a place for them to see that the global choral ‘community’ cares.
