Minnetonka resident Janet Armajani, newly retired in the early 1990s, read about a choral group for senior citizens in her local Minnetonka newspaper. Armajani, a lifelong singer from Woonsocket, SD, was known throughout her hometown as the daughter of the drugstore’s owner, who sang every day while walking through downtown with her best friend. Although she loved to sing, the audition process during her high school and college years kept Armajani from joining choir ensembles. When she retired from teaching, she still thought singing in a choir could be an interesting activity, but her nervousness around auditions remained. Fortunately, the ad for the Minnetonka Senior Chorale noted that auditions weren’t required, so she made her way to a rehearsal and discovered a way to sing, perform community service, and make friends all in one group.
Now more than two decades later, Armajani is still a stalwart in the soprano section and considers the Senior Chorale to be her most important commitment in retirement. She says that one of the best things about the group is the concerts they perform in nursing homes, senior centers, and adult day facilities. They approach singing as an act of service, so the chorale always includes an audience sing-along, and the music and movement of the singers sparks positive – and often musical – reactions among their audiences. “Everyone has a talent that they could share with someone else,” she says. “Maybe you don’t think about it when you’re 40, but I want to sing for these audiences because I hope someone will do it for me someday.”In addition to song and service, the Senior Chorale offers a fun community for its members. With weekly rehearsals, frequent concerts, and occasional parties and potlucks, the group enjoys spending time together and cooperates to organize car pools and check in on each other when needed. Meeting at the Minnetonka Community Center keeps them connected with other city programs for seniors. Rumor has it that they also love to linger after rehearsals to chat!
Part of the Music Association of Minnetonka, the Senior Chorale is conducted by Founder and Artistic Director Roger Hoel. The ensemble rehearses Wednesdays at 10 a.m. in the Purgatory Creek Room at the Minnetonka Community Center and membership is free and open to seniors from all communities. “Come join us,” Armajani says, “we’re open to all. No tryouts!”