Valley Soul Returns: Community, Harmony, and Purpose in Song

The Valley is alive with music once again. On Tuesday evening, about 50 residents (including me!) gathered for the first of six rehearsals of Valley Soul, the region’s volunteer gospel choir. Over the next several weeks, voices from across Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton, Oxford, Beacon Falls, and Naugatuck will come together to prepare for the annual concert on December 9 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Seymour.

A Choir with a Mission

Valley Soul began as a way to unite the community through the power of music. Organized with support from Griffin Health and led by Angela Clemmons, a seasoned performer and vocal director, the project blends gospel, soul, and holiday music in an inclusive, joyful atmosphere.

Unlike professional ensembles, Valley Soul is open to anyone—no auditions required. Participants learn by ear, with guide tracks provided, making it easy for singers of all levels to contribute. The result is something bigger than individual voices: a full-bodied, uplifting sound that reflects the spirit of the Valley.

Beyond music, Valley Soul has a purpose. The modest $25 registration fee and donations collected at the concert benefit TEAM, Inc., the Valley’s community action agency supporting local families. The choir is also underwritten by the President’s Fund at Griffin Hospital, underscoring its role as a gift of gratitude to the community.

Coming Back to the Choir

For some singers, this is their first Valley Soul season. For others—like me—it’s a return. I sang in the inaugural choir years ago, and this season marks my first time back.

As someone who sang in concert choir all four years of high school but now only sings at home or the occasional karaoke night, I felt both rusty and exhilarated. But what struck me most was how quickly strangers became companions in song. Within just a couple of hours, we sounded like a true choir.

I knew a handful of people already, but when parts were assigned, I found myself sitting next to new friends. That, in many ways, is the essence of Valley Soul: connection through harmony.

Looking Ahead

The six rehearsals will build toward the free community concert on December 9, open to all. More than just a performance, it’s a night designed to lift spirits, celebrate togetherness, and raise funds for TEAM’s work in the Valley.

Valley Soul is a reminder that music has the power to bridge divides. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned singer or someone dusting off their vocal cords for the first time in years—what matters is showing up, joining in, and letting your voice add to the whole.

This December, as Valley Soul takes the stage, it won’t just be a choir that the audience hears. It will be the sound of community—resilient, joyful, and in harmony.

Rehearsal Update 10/8/25

Our second Valley Soul rehearsal was a big one — we tackled the three hardest songs in our setlist! 🎶

To help us prepare, we’ve received practice tracks through Dropbox (or CDs for those who prefer) featuring Angela Clemmons singing each vocal part. As a soprano, I now have tracks with Angela’s voice guiding the soprano line for all nine songs — a huge help when practicing at home.

Next week we’ll have a break, and when we return in two weeks, we’re expected to jump right in and sing all nine songs straight through. The excitement (and challenge!) is definitely building.

Rehearsal Update 11/5/2025

I had to miss a couple of rehearsals — one for a prior commitment and another thanks to a stubborn fall cold. November seems to be the season for that!

This week’s practice went really well and, as always, was a lot of fun. Still, I think we all felt that familiar mix of joy and challenge — realizing just how much we’ll need to practice before the next session.

For me personally, part of the challenge is that gospel music feels very different from the kind of choral singing I was trained in. My background is more in traditional concert and chamber choir, where every note, vowel, and breath is carefully placed and precise. Gospel, on the other hand, invites freedom. It’s less about perfection and more about expression.

Instead of focusing on blending into a single, polished sound all the time, gospel singers are encouraged to pour their hearts into the music and to feel the rhythm, to slide between notes, to fall off a phrase, and to let emotion guide the voice. It’s raw, real, and deeply connected to spirit and community. Learning to let go of precision and lean into passion has been both humbling and liberating — and I think that’s what makes Valley Soul so special.

I also noticed something wonderful this year. The choir feels more diverse than it did in the very first season back in 2016. Looking around the room, I saw people of different ages, backgrounds, and races all singing together. That mix of voices and experiences makes the choir feel more reflective of The Valley itself. It's a community made up of many different people, each adding their own story and sound. It reminds us that harmony isn’t just a musical term; it’s what happens when we come together.