First Wednesdays
Song Circle
with Cary Sheldon
First Wednesdays
Song Circle
with Cary Sheldon
Join us to sing around the virtual campfire! FREE monthly sessions on the first Wednesday of the month with mentor Cary Sheldon.
NEW DATE – NEXT SONG CIRCLE: MAY 15!
The Register Now! button will take you to the Eventbrite registration page for Song Circle. You may register for as many individual sessions as you like.
Already registered? You can access your online link from the Eventbrite registration page, and you will get emails with the link in the days leading up to the workshop.
More questions? Check out the Online Access Help Page.
Enjoy this highlight from our April Song Circle with Cary and guest artist Hank Maninger.
There’s nothing that brings people together better than singing our favorite songs. It recalls summer nights around the campfire: someone strumming the guitar and all singing a mix of folk music, familiar songs we heard on the radio, and occasional new songs that someone shares.
Join us the first Wednesday of the month over Zoom for Song Circle. Mentor Cary Sheldon will invite us into her home to lead us in singing old favorites and new gems. Registration and participation are FREE!
Nobody has to worry about whether you know the songs or can sing like a pro. All online participants will be on mute. Lyrics and listen-links are posted on this page. This is our chance to share the joy of singing simply for the fun of it.
Join us in May to sing spirituals with guest artist Candace Johnson.
First Wednesday of the month | 7:00 p.m. Pacific
Oct 4 ∙ Nov 1 ∙ Feb 7 ∙ Mar 6 ∙ Apr 17 ∙ May 15
Everyone who wants to sing favorite songs and learn some new ones, too.
No preparation is required! We will post lyrics on this page but no practice is needed, just join us for an hour of musical fun with friends.
There is no cost, Song Circle is FREE.
Song Circle is a free initiative of Amateur Music Network, and is supported by your generous donations.
Register on our website – registration will open in September.
The Register Now! button will take you to the Eventbrite registration page for Song Circle. You may register for as many individual sessions as you like.
Already registered? You can access your online link from the Eventbrite registration page, and you will get emails with the link in the days leading up to the workshop.
More questions? Check out the Online Access Help Page.
Cary Sheldon is a singer, songwriter, and beloved Berkeley voice teacher with 30 years’ worth of grateful students. She has been playing and teaching in the Bay Area for the last 40 years. Her love for R & B music led her to be part of Zazu Pitts Memorial Orchestra in the 1980’s. Other affiliations include The Henry Kaiser Band, The Henriettas (a recreation of DeZurick sisters, a popular country music duo from the 1940’s), who appeared on Prairie Home Companion, and most recently her band DanceChant, a joyful community-inspired R&B band that encourages audience participation. She continues to be inspired by her love of singing in community. “Singing together with others is one of the greatest joys in my life.” Now in her 60’s, she returns to influences from her early life. Her grade school music teachers included John Langstaff, creator of the Christmas Revels, and the repertoire was based on the American folk tradition, including old English ballads, spirituals, freedom songs, and the popular folk and protest songs of the 1960’s. She hopes to inspire others to explore the depth of this material and rediscover the joy of community singing.
Photo by Jeanette Yu
All our Song Circle Guest Artists bring their expertise and love of community to inspire us to join together in singing. We explore multiple genres and styles, all grounded in creating an hour of fun in song.
In May, Song Circle welcomes Candace Johnson.
Candace will lead us in singing America’s joyous music of liberation.
Praised by Opera Wire for her vocal clarity, dramatic presence, and expressive interpretation, soprano Candace Y. Johnson has concertized widely, including guest appearances at Carnegie Hall and The Manhattan Center, and with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Johnson is a versatile artist, equally comfortable in opera, musical theater, and jazz. She has performed lead roles in Le Nozze di Figaro, The Medium, Suor Angelica, Fame, and she defined the genre-bending role of Jackie in the world premiere of Howard’s End, America with RealOpera, San Francisco (2019).
In the Spring of 2021 at The Marsh Theater, Johnson premiered a solo musical performance series titled The Art Songs of Black Composers, wherein she uniquely integrates vocal performance, theatrical storytelling, and music analysis — all to champion the songs and lives of African American composers past and present.
These are songs we’ll be singing at next Song Circle. We might not get to all of them, we might bring in some others.
Note that sometimes the key of the recording or YouTube is different from what we will sing together. This is because not all these recordings are in keys that are ideal for all voice parts, and we want everyone to be able to join in.
For each song, there is a short introductory note, then two music sheets. The first sheet has lyrics, and the second version has the music chords. For those who wish to play along, here are instructions from Cary about how to navigate the songs’ chord charts. For those who just wish to sing, refer to the first page (just the words).
Lyrics and chord charts from previous Song Circle sessions can be downloaded from our Song Archive page.
Download the lyrics and chords
Performed by Cynthia Liggins Thomas
Watch on YouTube
Download the lyrics and chords
Performed by Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman
Watch on YouTube
Download the lyrics and chords
Arranged by Moses Hogan, performed by Virtual Choir
Watch on YouTube
Download the lyrics and chords
Performed by Alvin Ailey Dance Co.
Watch on YouTube
Download the lyrics and chords
Performed by Mahalia Jackson
Watch on YouTube
Performed by Candace Johnson & Ben Flint
Watch on YouTube