"The Seed" | One-Day Choir

WHAT IS A ONE-DAY CHOIR?

Gaia Music Collective's One-Day Choir series is an opportunity to sing in a choir for one day only. A celebration of song and the connective power of singing in harmony. An opportunity to build community, make some new friends, and raise our powerfully diverse voices as one.

No auditions. No commitment. No need for perfection.

Just the joy of creating something bigger than ourselves with a room full of beautiful humans!

Whether you're a vocal ensemble veteran or have never sung in a group before, you are welcome here - all experience levels are valued in Gaia Music Collective!

OUR SONG THIS TIME AROUND

In times of devastation, we turn to song. In times of grief, rage, and fierce love for the Earth, we raise our voices together.

Join Gaia Music Collective for a powerful One-Day Choir event, where we will gather to learn and perform Aurora’s The Seed—a song of defiance, grief, and deep reverence for the natural world. Through layered harmonies and collective expression, we will give voice to the sorrow, anger, and hope that can stir when the world around us is changing so rapidly.

This powerful anthem is inspired by a proverb from the Cree people, a Native American tribe in modern-day Canada. The saying goes, “Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money," and highlights the importance of environmental protection and the interconnectedness of nature and human survival.

This choir will be a space for us to give voice to this sentiment, together. No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to sing with your whole heart.

Come, bring your voice, and let’s sing for the Earth. 🌎🔥

YOUR DONATION MATTERS

11% of the proceeds from this event will go towards the American Indian Community House, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serving the health, social service, and cultural needs of Native Americans residing in New York City.

LEARNING THE MUSIC

Sheet music and vocal recordings of each part will be available as learning resources before the event, and our collective goal is to practice the parts ahead of time so that we might come into the gathering with ! This way we can spend our time together really diving into the richness of music-making, rather than trying to teach the parts one by one. We don't need to know our parts by heart by any means (and you defffinitely don’t have to memorize it), but the stronger we are in our parts coming in, the more we'll be able to really dig into the fun stuff!

(If this style of learning isn't your cup of tea, we have other group singing events where you don't need to prepare at all! Check out our CircleSinging gatherings and House Shows.)

LED AND FACILITATED BY:

This session will be facilitated by our amazing Founder and Lead Facilitator, Matt Goldstein.

Matt Goldstein (he/him) is an award-winning arranger, facilitator, improviser, songwriter, and educator who is known for his emotive vocal arrangements, soulful singing, heart-forward facilitation, and visionary leadership. After making waves in the a cappella scene as music director of The Vassar Devils and Hyannis Sound, he went on to found Gaia Music Collective, a collaborative music community that is achieving international recognition for its work in creating kind, connective, accessible spaces for musical play and expression. He currently serves as Gaia’s Co-Director and Lead Facilitator, while also performing as an improviser and singer-songwriter, directing at A Cappella Academy, leading Rock Voices (a community pop-rock choir), and teaching vocal improv intensives through Flow Labs.

PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY:

• 2 story walk down to the basement with handrails.
• Narrow doors and walkways.
• Limited seating available (metal folding chairs)
• Uneven walkways outside.
• Bathroom is not wheelchair accessible (narrow stall, low toilet).

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CANCELLATION POLICY

We want as many people to be able to experience these gatherings as possible, and since capacity is limited, each spot is precious! If you RSVP but are no longer able to come, please let us know at least 24 hours before the event so that we may offer your spot to someone else. Tickets are non-transferable, as we need to be able to gather enough funds to rent the spaces and pay our lovely facilitator.

For more info, contact us at [email protected].

MEDIA CONSENT

Because we want to share what we’re up to with people who can’t join us in person, there will be photographers and videographers present — by attending, you consent to being a part of that media, some of which may be posted online! Please email us with any questions or concerns at [email protected]

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GAIA MUSIC COLLECTIVE MISSION

Gaia Music Collective is a creative community based in Brooklyn, NYC. Our mission is to create connective, playful, accessible spaces for collaborative music-making. Spaces where we can seek expression, growth, freedom, and release in our music. Spaces where we can explore the healing potential of collective music-making and improvisation. Spaces where folks feel safe to express themselves free of judgment or expectation, and to make new friends as our weird, beautiful, authentic selves.

All are welcome in this community. Gaia celebrates humans of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, classes, religions, abilities, national origins, languages, and musical experiences. All we ask is that you bring an open mind, a desire to connect, and a willingness to leave judgment of self and others at the door.

Here at Gaia, we believe that music-making - and making that music in community and collaboration with other people - is a fundamental human practice, and this project seeks to build space for that in a day and age when it can so often be hard to find.

Gaia Music Collective seeks to break down divisions between performer and audience and craft experiences where we are ALL part of the music-making. We hope to offer a network and platform for local artists and creatives to connect with other artists, activate their creativity through play and collaboration, and engage their art with other musical minds.

In short - we're here to sing, to play, to connect, to grow, and to have a good time!

FAQ

Have any questions that haven't been answered here? Check out our Event FAQs!

Host or Publisher Gaia Music Collective