About us The choir was founded by six people whose collective experience included community organizing, popular education, choral singing, community singing, folk music traditions, and social activism. This dynamic mix of experience and talents birthed a unique cultural group that aspires to make a difference while having fun! Founded in 1999, Common Thread struck an immediate chord in the community, attracting more than 100 potential members to the first rehearsal. From the beginning, the choir has had a large singer waiting list and also receives many more performance requests than it can possibly meet. One of our goals is to encourage people to sing in their everyday lives, so we often invite our audiences to sing along. We aim to "Put a song on people's lips, not just in their ears!" We sing music that celebrates the dignity of all people and their struggles to create a better world. One of our main purposes is to help community groups raise funds or raise awareness about important social issues. We are a non-audition choir that values diversity, accessibility, and fun! We are committed to creating a fun and supportive atmosphere for singers with a wide range of musical experiences and degrees of confidence. We believe that everyone can sing and that together we can make beautiful music. "Choirs have a tendency to bring out the best in people and Common Thread is no exception. Their choice of music crosses many borders, their love of music knows none. It's been a pleasure to work with them as both an arranger and as a performer. " Tom Leighton Throughout the season, we make several appearances in the community. Our dedication to community-building distinguishes Common Thread from many other choirs. Common Thread has a unique and varied singing history, which includes everything from participating in demonstrations to packing large concert halls. Whether we do a large concert with all our 70-voices, or appear as a smaller ensemble to lead a Sing-A-Long, our purpose is the same: to integrate music, community and social justice and have fun at the same time! Common Thread raises money through membership fees, grants, an annual concert, and we also seek donations from individuals and companies.