Are you between 9 and 99 years of age?

Our youngest full time member started with us at just aged 9 and our eldest is now 99!

Our rehearsals are a fun way to spend one evening each week meeting warm friendly people all with a common desire to sing and help others who would like to experience healing through music, whether hurt is caused by the storms or otherwise. There is where it all starts. By helping others we also help in some small way to actively participate in the long process of recovery. The mental health aspects that music addresses with people in sufference is no secret. To be able to help you, your friends, your family to get across the dramatic hurdles of the these stroms, you must first rebalance your own soul and empower your mind to take control and act. This si what the Hurricane Choir does as captured in the television documentary. This is where you begin the process of the most important part of recovery, inside yourself.

There has been discussion that the Hurricane Choir may move it's rehearsals from the Unitarian Church to the Community Room at Whole Foods where we sound great. However, we will continue rehearsals at Unitarian Church until further notice as there is more space here. Please let everyone know. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising!

The Hurricane Choir has a core group rehearsing throughout the coming winter months. We were practicing every Tuesday evening at The Unitarian Church on Goodwood Street from 7:00 through to 8:30 PM with Cathy McManus is our conductor. We wish to thank the good people at the Unitarian choiurch for their log term support.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT AS OF MID 2008, THE CHOIR'S REHEARSAL ACTIVITY AND PERFORMANCES ARE TEMPORARILY ON HOLD UNTIL WE HAVE SORTED OUT NEW INSURANCE COVERAGE, AND MADE OUR PROGRESSION TO A FEDERAL NOT FOR PROFIT STATUS. WE APPLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND WE KNOW OUR MEMBERS ARE FULLY BEHIND US AND SUPORTIVE TO THIS FORWARD CHANGE.

2006

Our rehearsals originally started back in early 2006, just a few months out from the devistating hurricanes. They were initially performed in the house at 551 Leeward Drive in University Acres that doubled as both our 'Hurricane Central' office and accomodation for the organisers and filmmakers. Incidently, Hurricane Central has since moved to Brentwood BLVD off Jefferson HWY, and will soon be known as "Hurricane Capitol" when the formal Federal Not-for-Profit proceedings comes into effect.

We then were sponsored space in the beautiful Jefferson Baptist Church on Jefferson road. The interior of this church offers a strong wonderful acoustic and the atmosphere is warm, friendly and bright. Here we rehearsed twice weekly, every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning to prepare for the first concert series, now known as Concert Series One. In the final weeks, we commenced rehearsing 3 times a week with the addition of Thursday evening and we did a full dress rehearsal on the Thursday evening, 1st June, before commencing the 3 days of 2 hour concerts on the Friday. The remarkable thing was the high level of participation from the community and as well from the members and musicians from all over southern Louisiana. Many musicians came to support the choir after after a persoanl call to their fellow friends by Jeff and Holly Cashio who later accepted seats in our first temporary Board set up to establish the first permanent Board of Directors. The single most inspirational member of the Hurricane Choir was Mrs Annie Ford, our eldest member of 98 years who has an equally inpiring tale of survival from the dramatcically flooded area of New Orleans. She turns 100 this year, she was born in 1908!

2006 - 2007

Late in 2006 and since, our choir has been rehearsing at the Unitiarian Church on Goodwood Street. Here we use either the main hall or the side room off the main hall depending on numbers. Although not a theatre like multi-level stage like the Jefferson Baptist Church, the Unitiarian Church has fantastic acoustic sound quailities. We practised here every Tuesday evening through 2007-2008.