The History of Sing Out Detroit: A Journey of Harmony and Growth
Sing Out Detroit was founded in July 2008 by four friends—Linda Brincat, RiverLee Farrell, Kim Whitney, and Shelli Schimke—who shared a passion for singing choral music in a joyful, healthy, and fun environment. What started as a casual weekly gathering in a living room quickly grew as more singers joined, and soon, the group needed a larger rehearsal space.
St. John’s Episcopal Church warmly welcomed us into their choir room, providing a home for our expanding membership. Under the guidance of our first Music Director, Ryan Hinman, a talented family member of one of our singers, we began to flourish.
By the fall of 2008, our choir had grown to 15 members, and we embarked on our first concert season with a holiday performance at “Five 15” in Royal Oak and at the December “Ties Like Me” meeting. In January 2009, our membership increased to 21 as we prepared for our Spring concert, which included another showcase at Five 15 and a performance at Detroit’s First Unitarian Universalist Church.
In June 2009, we had the honor of singing at the opening ceremony of Motor City Pride, an event we have participated in every year since. That first year was pivotal for Sing Out Detroit, as we joined GALA Choruses, applied for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, formed an interim Board of Directors, and launched our website.
In 2011, Todd Ballou became our Music Director, leading us until June 2015. The fall of 2015 marked the beginning of a new chapter with Jeremy St. Martin as Music Director, who guided us until his departure after our winter concert in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree. Our most recent search for a director brought us to Amy Saari, who currently leads our thriving choir, continuing our mission of fostering positive social change through music.
Sing Out Detroit has grown each year, thanks to the dedication of our members and the support of our community. We are excited for what the future holds as we continue to share our passion for music and create a welcoming space for all.