Encourage Me: Insignificant

“A choir that volunteers or volunteers who formed a choir; it matters little which way you think of the Harmony Project.” (Jim Fisher, Assistant Editor, “Concert Preview: The Harmony Project”)

My hometown, Columbus, OH, has a population of 2,044,100 people. This capitol city is best known for its unbridled passion for college football with the Ohio State Buckeyes. A modern Columbus has emerged as a technologically sophisticated city
Columbus is teeming with art, music, theater, museums and culture, and an range of businesses, it's also home to a bustling and energetic workforce. With a prosperous economy that draws a young and energetic atmosphere.

It is home to the world's largest private research and development foundation, the Battelle Memorial Institute. The city is home to several institutions of higher learning which include Ohio State University, Columbus State Community College, Columbus College of Art and Design and Franklin University. Annual festivities in Columbus include the Ohio State Fair, one of the largest state fairs in the country.

People in Columbus know how to make a difference with their lives in a meaningful way. The Harmony Project seeks to connect people across social divides through the arts, education, and volunteer community service.

The idea for Harmony Project didn’t happen overnight. Founder David Brown had been carrying it around for a while, but didn’t know if it was even possible to bring people together and provide them with the opportunity to sing, serve, and share. But his resolve was strong, and his experiences leading up to its launch helped shape the program. What started as a single concert has blossomed into a suite of programs grounded in music and service.

“The idea of Harmony Project is based in music, because that is my background. Because of my skill set, I’m going to turn you into something you didn’t think you could be,” David said. “Harmony can be used to introduce people not only to each other, but to their city.”

Harmony Project was founded in October 2009. It began by inviting people who loved to sing (even if they did not think their voice was good enough) to use their voice to be part of something greater than themselves. A combination of people who had not sung since high school, those who had never sung publicly outside of the car or shower, and professionally-trained vocalists join together to create the sound of the community when we all started singing together. More than 200 people showed up for the initial meeting. At the end of 2015, between the choir and other initiatives throughout the community, Harmony Project was more than 700 voices strong.

There are no auditions for Harmony Project. It is not about the quality of your voice, but how you use it. There are no notes to read. The focus is on the lyrics of the song. We are storytellers. There is no financial obligation to our volunteers. Every Harmony Project arts and education program is offered complimentary. Our concerts, community investors, foundations, public partners, and corporate contributors provide support for our mission. This allows every person who wishes to participate to do so regardless of their resources.

Thousands of people have participated in a Harmony Project program or performance, or by giving back in service to the collective neighborhood through community garden restoration, neighborhood cleanups, tree planting, public art mural installations, playground builds, and serving meals are just some of the ways our volunteers give back.

Together, we gather people from across lines of power and position, and engage them as equal in harmony. We carry voices at the Ohio Reformatory for Women across the planet to comfort, to soothe, and to bring laughter to children in South Africa’s Sunflower House hospice care. For more information on Harmony Project, please contact by phone 614-564-9300, or by e-mail connect@harmonyproject.com.

“Harmony builds connection. Singing on stage feels like a two-way street. I share the emotion and lessons of my life from that season, and the audience shares the emotion of their lives in the moment. We’re there for each other in a most profound way, empathically sharing and listening to each other through the music.” (Kate O'Hara, Original and Current Member of Harmony Project)[i]