What we’re about
Offering community singing gatherings, song circles, and workshops for joy, connection and creative expression, from Parksville to Nanaimo. Hosting visiting songleaders like Coco Love Alcorn, Sarina Partridge and more. These community singing events are open to all voices.
Sylvia is part of the Ubuntu Choirs Network, which believes that singing is a universal human birthright and that we can change the world by singing together. After a cancer diagnosis, Sylvia quit her government job to pursue her passion for harmony singing. In 2023 she took the Community Choir Leadership Training founded by Siobhan Robinsong and Denis Donnely of Victoria's infamous Gettin' Higher Choir, and found her tribe of community songleaders from across North America (The Ubuntu Choirs Network), sharing songs of peace, hope, and unity. Now it's her mission to bring community singing back into our local culture, and foster joy and connection through song.
Sylvia is the founder of Humble Harmony, a non-performing, immersive community singing group, focused on interconnectivity and vocal harmony. Singing inspiring, uplifting and healing songs, world music, sea shanties, and songs of peace and hope, the group learns by ear in the oral tradition, and welcomes all voices regardless of background.
Community Singing events are posted in this meetup group as well as on Sylvia's website, www.sylviahumble.ca/events
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Humble Harmony Song Circle - MondaysSt. Andrews United Church, Nanaimo, BC
Are you unsatisfied with singing alone in the car?
Do you miss singing in community (but not a formal choir)?
Would you rather learn to follow your ear than read music?## Share The Magic of Community Singing!
Humble Harmony is a fun and informal community singing group, like a community choir but without the pressure to perform, or follow sheet music. Your first time is FREE - come and see if you love it!
- Share your voice in a welcoming community group based purely on the joy of singing together in harmony, imperfectly.
- Sing inspiring, uplifting and healing songs, world music, sea shanties, and songs of peace and hope.
- Learn to harmonize by ear, and “wing it”. No experience necessary.
- Explore your range and try different parts; no-one is pigeon-holed into an assigned section.
- Enjoy vocal play, songs with actions, and simple body percussion. Chairs are provided but we often like to stand and move around the room.
- Have a cup of ginger-lemon tea during the 10-minute break, and get to know each other.
## Where and When?
Our Monday afternoon group meets from 2 - 3:40pm at St. Andrews United Church, 315 Fitzwilliam St. (in the hall, Wesley Street entrance). (We also have a Tuesday evening group in Nanaimo and a Thursday in Parksville).
The Early Fall Season is six weeks, from Sept. 8 - Oct. 13, and the first two weeks are open to drop in (Sept 8 and 15); come and see if you love it!
For the remaining four weeks, we will “close the container” (membership is required) to allow us to get to know the songs, create musical and social cohesion, and enrich the singing experience for everyone.## Cost: Sliding Scale*
*SLIDING SCALE: is meant to welcome people of diverse backgrounds and economic access. Please consider your positionality and choose the sweet spot that is both generous and affordable for you.
- Drop In (first 2 weeks only) $15 - 25 per visit. If you’ve never sung with me before, try it FREE!
- Membership for the 6-week season: $75 - 150 includes access to all three locations. If you come to 5 or 6 sessions, it’s a great deal; if you come to more than one session a week, it’s a smokin’ deal!
For more info. and to register, please visit www.sylviahumble.ca/humble-harmony
Or email sylvia@sylviahumble.ca
- Tuesday Nights - Humble Harmony Song CircleRotary Field House , Nanaimo, BC
Are you unsatisfied with singing alone in the car?
Do you miss singing in community (but not a formal choir)?
Would you rather learn to follow your ear than read music?## Share The Magic of Community Singing!
Humble Harmony is a fun and informal community singing group, like a community choir but without the pressure to perform, or follow sheet music. Your first time is FREE - come and see if you love it!
- Share your voice in a welcoming community group based purely on the joy of singing together in harmony, imperfectly.
- Sing inspiring, uplifting and healing songs, world music, sea shanties, and songs of peace and hope.
- Learn to harmonize by ear, and “wing it”. No experience necessary.
- Explore your range and try different parts; no-one is pigeon-holed into an assigned section.
- Enjoy vocal play, songs with actions, and simple body percussion. Chairs are provided but we often like to stand and move around the room.
- Have a cup of ginger-lemon tea during the 10-minute break, and get to know each other.
- On Tuesday evenings, we are joined by April Laurie for a playful warmup, Bobby McFerrin - style circle singing, and groovy percussion!
## Where and When?
Our Tuesday evening group meets from 7 - 8:45pm at Rotary House, 850 Third St., Nanaimo (turn onto Jinglepot Rd., and it’s at the “Serauxmen Fields”, across from the access to Buttertubs Marsh). Oh, the acoustics!
The Early Fall Season is six weeks, from Sept. 9 - Oct. 14, and the first two weeks are open to drop in (Sept 9 and 16); come and see if you love it!
For the remaining four weeks, we will “close the container” (membership is required) to allow us to get to know the songs, create musical and social cohesion, and enrich the singing experience for everyone.## Cost: Sliding Scale*
*SLIDING SCALE: is meant to welcome people of diverse backgrounds and economic access. Please consider your positionality and choose the sweet spot that is both generous and affordable for you.
- Drop In (first 2 weeks only) $15 - 25 per visit. If you’ve never sung with us, try it FREE!
- Membership for the 6-week season: $75 - 150 includes access to all three locations. If you come to 5 or 6 sessions, it’s a great deal; if you come to more than one session a week, it’s a smokin’ deal!
For more info. and to register, please visit www.sylviahumble.ca/humble-harmony
Or email sylvia@sylviahumble.ca
- Humble Harmony Song Circle - ParksvilleMcMillan Arts Centre, Parksville, BC
Are you unsatisfied with singing alone in the car?
Do you miss singing in community (but not a formal choir)?
Would you rather learn to follow your ear than read music?## Share The Magic of Community Singing!
Humble Harmony is a fun and informal community singing group, like a community choir but without the pressure to perform, or follow sheet music. Your first time is FREE - come and see if you love it!
- Share your voice in a welcoming community group based purely on the joy of singing together in harmony, imperfectly.
- Sing inspiring, uplifting and healing songs, world music, sea shanties, and songs of peace and hope.
- Learn to harmonize by ear, and “wing it”. No experience necessary.
- Explore your range and try different parts; no-one is pigeon-holed into an assigned section.
- Enjoy vocal play, songs with actions, and simple body percussion. Chairs are provided but we often like to stand and move around the room.
- Have a cup of ginger-lemon tea during the 10-minute break, and get to know each other.
## Where and When?
Our Parksville group meets from 3:30 - 5:10pm at the beautiful McMillan Arts Centre. (We also have an afternoon and an evening group in Nanaimo).
The Early Fall Season is six weeks, from Sept. 11 - Oct. 16, and the first two weeks are an OPEN HOUSE (Sept 11 and 18); drop in and see if you love it! For the remaining four weeks, we will “close the container” (membership is required) to allow us to get to know the songs, create musical and social cohesion, and enrich the singing experience for everyone.
## Cost: Sliding Scale*
*SLIDING SCALE: is meant to welcome people of diverse backgrounds and economic access. Please consider your positionality and choose the sweet spot that is both generous and affordable for you.
- Drop In (first 2 weeks only) $15 - 25 per visit. If you’ve never sung with me before, try it FREE!
- Membership for the 6-week season: $75 - 150 (includes access to all three locations). If you come to 5 or 6 sessions, it’s a great deal; if you come to more than one session a week, it’s a smokin’ deal!
For more info. and to register, please visit www.sylviahumble.ca/humble-harmony
Or email sylvia@sylviahumble.ca
- Humble Harmony Song Circle - MondaysSt. Andrews United Church, Nanaimo, BC
Are you unsatisfied with singing alone in the car?
Do you miss singing in community (but not a formal choir)?
Would you rather learn to follow your ear than read music?## Share The Magic of Community Singing!
Humble Harmony is a fun and informal community singing group, like a community choir but without the pressure to perform, or follow sheet music. Your first time is FREE - come and see if you love it!
- Share your voice in a welcoming community group based purely on the joy of singing together in harmony, imperfectly.
- Sing inspiring, uplifting and healing songs, world music, sea shanties, and songs of peace and hope.
- Learn to harmonize by ear, and “wing it”. No experience necessary.
- Explore your range and try different parts; no-one is pigeon-holed into an assigned section.
- Enjoy vocal play, songs with actions, and simple body percussion. Chairs are provided but we often like to stand and move around the room.
- Have a cup of ginger-lemon tea during the 10-minute break, and get to know each other.
## Where and When?
Our Monday afternoon group meets from 2 - 3:40pm at St. Andrews United Church, 315 Fitzwilliam St. (in the hall, Wesley Street entrance). (We also have a Tuesday evening group in Nanaimo and a Thursday in Parksville).
The Early Fall Season is six weeks, from Sept. 8 - Oct. 13, and the first two weeks are open to drop in (Sept 8 and 15); come and see if you love it!
For the remaining four weeks, we will “close the container” (membership is required) to allow us to get to know the songs, create musical and social cohesion, and enrich the singing experience for everyone.## Cost: Sliding Scale*
*SLIDING SCALE: is meant to welcome people of diverse backgrounds and economic access. Please consider your positionality and choose the sweet spot that is both generous and affordable for you.
- Drop In (first 2 weeks only) $15 - 25 per visit. If you’ve never sung with me before, try it FREE!
- Membership for the 6-week season: $75 - 150 includes access to all three locations. If you come to 5 or 6 sessions, it’s a great deal; if you come to more than one session a week, it’s a smokin’ deal!
For more info. and to register, please visit www.sylviahumble.ca/humble-harmony
Or email sylvia@sylviahumble.ca
