My reason for singing with the IAC has changed over the years. Back in 2012, I was recently divorced and needed to fill my time with something that brought me back to life. I sing all day long with my choir students, but it had been years since I had sang just for me. I have had some great moments with the IAC and been exposed to great music repertoire, directors, and musical guests. Some have impacted my soul, like singing in the ICO's Messiah Sing-a-long and hearing the audience lift their voice with ours led me to tears. Some have impacted my teaching, like having the opportunity to invite my HS students to sing with us and introduce them to composers and literature that I have grown to love.

In the summer of 2013 I moved to Indiana and I literally knew one person in the whole state. Within a week of my arrival I joined this wonderful organization and I felt welcomed and accepted, and that I had a place to belong. Over the years the people and friends I've made at IAC have become my family and my home away from home. I'm so happy and proud to be part of the Indy Arts Chorale.

I think I was born singing—it's just like breathing to me. I've sung in choirs at school and in church all my life, but sometimes a person just needs to grow musically and be challenged in the quality, variety and, yes, even the difficulty level, of the music sung. IAC offers all those things for me and more. I love stretching my musical "chops" and enjoy not just the music, but the camaraderie as well. It's a perfection combination of happy for me.