Welcome to Joyful Noise!
Joyful Noise is a chorus of forty-five adults, ages 17–70, with physical and neurological challenges and acquired brain injuries. Founded in 2000 by Director Allison Fromm and her sister, chorus member Beth Fromm, the ensemble is hosted by Bancroft, in southern New Jersey and Delaware. Joyful Noise fosters an atmosphere of community, acceptance, and teamwork in which members can discover their voices and express themselves through music. As one singer explains, “It makes me feel famous and proud!” Another reveals, "It's my life’s dream to be an entertainer forever.... and my dream came true!” The chorus serves as a model and a resource for similar ensembles that seek to develop in their members a sense of pride, confidence, and the potential to contribute to our world.
December Newsletter
Joyful Noise December 2011 Newsletter
August Newsletter: Thirteen New Members Love Singing with Joyful Noise
Joyful Noise August 2011 Newsletter
Joyful Noise Members Invited to Form Core of Nation's First ACDA Festival Choir for Singers with Disabilities
Updated June 30, 2011
By Paula Siegel, Joyful Noise Board
After the astounding success of Joyful Noise in Chicago, the applause of the thousand ACDA conference attendees is still echoing throughout the country! Our long-awaited encore performance will occur at the American Choral Directors Association's Eastern Division Conference, which will be held in February 2012 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Once again, members of Joyful Noise will break ground as the core of the Building Communities Festival Choir. This first-ever ACDA Festival Choir will be composed of singers with neurological and physical challenges singing along with music therapists and choral directors drawn from the Eastern Division's eleven states and the District of Columbia. As the inspiration for this new Festival Choir, we are honored that our own conductor, Allison Fromm, was invited to direct this historic choir. Allison will be joined by our longtime dear friends and renowned choral composers, Alice Parker and Nick Page.
As composer Steven Sametz predicted, our Chicago concert has been “planting seeds with wonderfully unpredictable results.” Since our Chicago ACDA performance, dozens of choral leaders have contacted us, and choirs modeled after Joyful Noise have begun to spring up in many states, including Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. Our goal of spreading music to everyone is becoming a mission of ACDA and countless others. In February, we shall lead the Building Communities Festival Choir and spread the joy of music even further – just wait and see!
If you are interested in learning more and perhaps participating in the Building Communities Festival Choir in Providence, Rhode Island, February 17-18, 2012, please review the vision statement and the online application or contact Cathy Sonnenberg.
Director's Note
Updated August 28, 2011
By Allison Fromm
Joyful Noise’s singers were thrilled when over 1,000 conductors joined in singing "You Have a Heart" and then gave them a resounding standing ovation! I was so proud of how beautifully everyone performed! As the performance concluded, dozens of conductors crowded the stage to congratulate us and to ask how to start similar choruses in their own states.
Please read some of our singers’ stories and audience responses.
Jodi accepts Joyful Noise's plaque for performing at ACDA's 2011 National Conference (photo by Lanny Edelsohn)
June Newsletter
Joyful Noise June 2011 Newsletter
2010-11 Fund Drive Update
Updated June 30, 2011
By Christine Dwyer, Joyful Noise Co-Treasurer
Traveling to Chicago and singing with Alice Parker and Nick Page for the American Choral Directors Association conference was absolutely thrilling for our members! Yet, as you can imagine, substantial travel expenses were involved. This extraordinary opportunity to sing at a prestigious national conference inspired many of our supporters to help defray the costs. To date, 147 donors have contributed $24,784 toward our $30,000 goal. In addition to many individual gifts, Joyful Noise is fortunate to have received 11 corporate sponsorships and charitable grants from: Bancroft, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish, BNY Mellon, Center Metal Fabricators, English & Associates, First United Methodist Church of Moorestown, NJ, Glenmede Foundation, Heels and Soles, Homes for Life Foundation, Masterwire Manufacturing, Party of Six – Passariello’s Pizzeria, and Wild Rock, West Virginia.
We are so thankful for everyone who helped provide for the historic Chicago performance and for rehearsals every week in New Jersey and Delaware! Even the smallest donation makes a difference by supporting musical opportunities for our singers. Contributions of any amount are always needed and will be most gratefully received. Please send checks made payable to Joyful Noise to:
Christine Dwyer, Treasurer
Joyful Noise
17 Springbrook Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
Donors may also contribute online via PayPal.
Next Event
- Winter Ball: Desserts & Dancing
Saturday, January 28
@ 6:30-8:30 PM
McDaid Hall
Westmont, NJ
Tickets: $15 - BINGO Benefit
Friday, February 3
@ 6 PM
Moose Lodge
Lindenwold, NJ - Building Communities Festival Choir
Saturday, February 18 @ 11:30 AM
American Choral Directors Association
Eastern Division Conference
Providence, RI
Recent News
Joyful Noise December 2011 Newsletter
Joyful Noise August 2011 Newsletter
Joyful Noise June 2011 Newsletter
