UMass Labor Chorus
This past spring, sixteen women and men representing the majority of the unions on campus came together to form the UMass Labor Chorus!
Research suggests that this is the first campus-based, multi-union labor chorus in the United States. Comments from
members suggest that this historically significant venture has already been an enriching artistic experience to its diverse participants:
“I felt that it was inspiring, but I also enjoyed having the opportunity to meet others across the university”--SEIU
“I liked the labor chorus for the people (sense of community) and the cause (better working and life conditions; social
justice)!” --USA/MTA
"It's a terrific idea and has been my entre to union involvement.”—MSP/MTA
The Labor Chorus will meet on eight Wednesdays during the Fall semesters from 4:15-5:45. Our first gathering will be in Campus Center 174-176 on September 28th. The musical coordinator/conductor will be Anne Louise White, and the administrative coordinator is UMass staff member and SEIU Chapter Board member Sandy Mandel.
For the past nine years, Anne Louise White has directed choruses and led classes in vocal technique, harmony singing and performance skills. For five years she performed as a member of the nationally acclaimed band Trapezoid. A skilled vocalist, Anne’s work can be heard on recordings by John McCutcheon, Sally Rodgers, and Si Kahn, as well as on her own solo recordings. In addition, Anne founded and has served as choral director for the Leverett Community Chorus from 2002 to the present.
The chorus will include women and men, students and faculty, service workers and professional staff who would all have an answer in common to the questions: Do you work at UMass? Do you belong to a union? Do you like to sing? If the answer is “yes,” then come and join the UMass Labor Chorus!