Capital Harmonia, an all-woman’s chorus in D.C., has been coming to one of House of Ruth’s housing programs for five years. This very special choir performs mostly music written or arranged by contemporary female artists, which sets it apart from many other choirs. The music ranges from pop to gospel to modern, and stops at many places in between.
The clients at Madison are different each time they come, and the reception varies, too. This year, the start was a bit rough, with a few clients openly doubting the relevance of the choir. The first song drew many people in … and by the mash up of Aretha Franklin’s songs as the finale, the entire room was clapping, stomping and singing along.
It was a beautiful reminder of the power of music to heal and join people together. Then, the leader of Capital Harmonia said, “we’re always looking for new singers—you all sounded great!” And, unexpectedly, a client who had just moved in the day before introduced herself as a performer and asked if she could close the concert with a song. She did, and she brought down the house.
We so appreciate the woman of Capital Harmonia, the indomitable spirit of our clients, and the generosity of all of our volunteers.