Each year Voices Unite has grown to include more participants. Multiple church singers and school choirs have joined their voices in a day of singing and learning. The day is filled with fun and laughter as generations and denominations come together in a common love of music and worshiping God. The day includes morning and afternoon rehearsals interspersed with breaks for food and fellowship. A final concert, open to the public, finishes the day and highlights the songs learned by the mass choir as well as pieces shared by individual participating choirs.
Chemine Mulford was born and raised in Sioux City. She grew up in a musical family and spent most of her childhood years annoying neighbors, friends, and family with her constant piano practice, guitar playing, and loud singing. As a less annoying adult, she had a great time singing both lead and back-up vocals in a small-town band for several years in Missouri and was privileged to sing with some extraordinarily talented Branson musicians in a country & amp gospel show at Roaring River Theater. Chemine has been a church musician for 15 years and served as director for both the vocal and bell choirs at St. John Lutheran Church for 7 years. She is still annoying neighbors with constant piano practice and loud singing, but her guitar playing has improved. Chemine is the mother of five children, grandmother of six.
Charity Koehler is a Sioux City native and has been a church musician for over 25 years. She loves to use her musical and organizational gifts to bring people together, and help people improve and reach their potential. Charity has a bachelors degree in music education and a masters degree in education from Briar Cliff University. Over the years she has served as music director in several local churches. Her career includes serving as an accompanist, song leader, choir and bell choir director, and organist. Charity is also a music educator who has served in multiple schools in the Siouxland area for 12 years. She has taught piano to students of all ages over the last 28 years. She has been married for 23 years and is the proud mother of 2 children.
Voices Unite began in 2015 when Chemine contacted Charity about getting their church choirs together to learn about spirituals. Chemine was offered an opportunity to have Dr. Gary Hines, director of Sounds of Blackness, come to teach her choir about singing spirituals. Chemine and Charity thought the experience was such a great opportunity for sacred singers that they decided to enhance the moment and make it an annual event.