MONDAY NIGHTS
Why do 60+ individuals of various ages, occupations, and vocal histories land together at rehearsal every Monday night for two and a half hours, nine months out of the year?
In an opinion piece published in the Iowa City Press-Citizen's Music Column, Dana Gratton, alto 1 and board vice president, captures the gist.
The short version: it isn't talent. Members describe rehearsal as "a break from the world and the busyness of home and life," a place for "fellowship with other singers," even a stand-in for social interaction some of us don't get elsewhere during the week. For Dana, it comes down to something simpler: "the chord that delivers goosebumps, text that catches me off-guard with a tear, but mostly the profound truth we need each other to make this sound."
Turns out there's real research behind that pull — group singing has been linked in peer-reviewed studies to lower stress, stronger immune markers, even heart rates that sync up between singers mid-song. We're basically a case study.
None of that makes it easy. Sight-singing, holding a line against a dissonant neighboring part, trusting an entrance you can barely hear: rehearsal asks a lot, by design. It's the high standard set first by David Puderbaugh and now sharpened by Alex Koppel, and it's why CSIC is the only community choir in eastern Iowa mounting full masterworks concerts with a hand-picked chamber orchestra.
Read Dana's full column in the Press-Citizen this week for the rest. (Note: paywall may limit access.)
If your Monday nights need a shift, we'd love to hear from you. Auditions for our 2026-27 season:
Sunday, July 26, 1:45–5 p.m.
Monday, July 27, 5:45–9 p.m.
Thursday, July 30, 5:45–9 p.m.
Sign up at icchambersingers.org/join.
Further reading on the science of group singing:
Weinstein, D., et al. "Group music performance causes elevated pain thresholds and social bonding." Evolution and Human Behavior, 2016.
Kreutz, G., et al. "Effects of Choir Singing or Listening on Secretory Immunoglobulin A, Cortisol, and Emotional State." Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2004.
Vickhoff, B., et al. "Music structure determines heart rate variability of singers." Frontiers in Psychology, 2013.