Singing to the Heavens:

The Samadhi Singers

by Tim Evans

When the voices of the Samadhi Singers begin to rise, the first words that come to mind are “make a joyful noise.” It certainly explains the name; samadhi is a word from the Buddhist tradition most closely interpreted as “in close union with God.”

This Burlington-based chorale has been performing and perfecting their joyful noise since 1997. Samadhi’s inception started in Reverend Christine Leslie’s longing to “sing with a spirited [or] sacred music chorale for friends and members of the GLBT community as I had in the New York City area.” Chris, a recent transplant from New Jersey, met Bev Youree and accompanist George Reynolds in the spring of that year, and the roots of Samadhi took hold.

That same spring, as Leslie tells it, Lisa Rubin, Minister of Education at the Unitarian Church in Burlington, was getting the annual GLBT Interfaith Pride service up and running, which had had a history of having a pick-up choir meet an hour before the service. “So those of us interested in getting the Samadhi Singers going,” said Chris, “joined in the rehearsals and then during the service announced the start of the GLBT and Friends singing chorale.”

Rehearsals began in July 1997, with more than 20 people joining in. They gave their first concert that October, during National Coming Out Week.

People have come and gone over the past three years, but at present, the group claims 35 members. “Anyone can join the choir,” said longtime member Peter Frechette. The singers have continued sharpening their craft despite member turnover. “We seem to be attracting more and more skilled singers,” says Leslie, “people who read music and have some singing experience.”

At a recent rehearsal, the group warmed up with breathing exercises and a run through the musical scales. They went on to practice “These Green Mountains” (candidate for new state song), and then went on to more difficult pieces like “Make Safe a Place For Us,” and “New Ecstasy.” “Because we have such a cross-section of people,” Frechette explained, “we don’t sing hymns as such, but we do the sacred and spiritual, and a lot of South African freedom songs that are inspiring to all of us.”

Under the benevolent guidance of George Reynolds and Chris Leslie, there was an air of professionalism in the room, but also an overriding sense of fun and love of singing. This group works hard at getting the song just right. But there are no prima donas here, and everyone works together. The payoff is truly a joyous sound that reaches towards the heavens.

The payoff has been obvious to many. In just three years, the choir has enjoyed several exciting performance opportunities. In October, they gave a rousing performance at the Ellen Degeneres and Anne Heche appearance at UVM’s National Coming Out Week program. “This was a high point for us that gave us great exposure and a great opportunity to let the GLBT community know we are here and we are really good,” says Chris Leslie.

More recently, they performed at the Unitarian Church in Burlington on the night the Vermont State Supreme Court announced its ruling in the Baker v. State case and at the R.U.1.2? community dinner in April. Coming up, the group is looking forward to a concert planned for June 11 at the Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, and a possible appearance at First Night 2001.