History

The official seed for the Threshold Choir was planted in June of 1990 when I sang for my friend Larry as he lay in a coma, dying of HIV/AIDS. I did housework all morning and sang for him all afternoon. The contrast between the morning and the afternoon were profound. I felt like I had really given generously of my essence to my dear friend while I sang to him. I also found that I felt deeply comforted myself, which I know in turn was comforting to him.

A few years passed and in August of 1997 driving back home from Montana, I committed myself to sing for any animals I encountered having been killed on the road. It felt good and I continued long after that trip was over and it is still my practice. I stop whatever (besides driving) I am doing, turn off the radio, and sing a small song I wrote that begins "May your spirit rise safely...." These two moments, combined with my love of singing, of singing with wonderful women and being of service were the inspiration for the Threshold Choir.

Once I had conceived the idea, it took a technological understanding of how to communicate with many people at a time to let this idea fledge completely. Having been resistant to computer technology for far too long, I bought my first computer Dec. 29,1999 (I didn’t think much of Y2K...) and began to fool around with it. 3 months later, on the Vernal Equinox, March 21, 2000 the first Threshold Choir gathering was held at Katharine Osburn’s home in El Cerrito.All of the 15 gals present at that evening (which at one point was suffused with golden light, I’m not kidding...) are still active in the choir. I am so very proud of that fact.

The East Bay and Marin Choirs started at that time. Six months later, I started the San Francisco and Sonoma County Choirs. Six months after that the Bolinas and Peninsula Choirs, and 6 months after that the Santa Cruz Choirs. Along the way, spinoff choirs have begun in Ashland OR, Milwaukee WI, Chico, Aromas and Sacramento CA. Choirs are coalescing currently in Placerville, Nevada City, and Monterey CA.