YOU CAN HEAR THE JOY IN THEIR VOICES.Byline: Simone Schramm Staff Writer They're not professional singers, but their voices are strong, and during the holiday season, especially merry and bright. The Chansonettes Women's Chorus, a San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. group of volunteers who share a love of singing, belt out Broadway show tunes and patriotic anthems year-round. They perform at women's clubs and retirement communities, such as the Motion Picture Retirement Home in Woodland Hills and the Sunrise Assisted Living as·sist·ed living n. A living arrangement in which people with special needs, especially older people with disabilities, reside in a facility that provides help with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, and taking medication. Facility in Studio City. And this time of year, their repertoire includes ``White Christmas,'' ``Jingle Bells'' and ``Winter Wonderland.'' ``It's a fulfilling feeling for us to be able to give something back, because we just enjoy it,'' says business manager Pamela Franklin, a native of England. ``The reward is when we see the faces of the people and they start humming the songs.'' Founded in 1953 by a group of PTA PTA or parent-teacher association: see parent education. moms, the Chansonettes now includes about a dozen women who range in age from 52 to 83. The nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. uses its earnings to pay for sheet music, instruments and costumes. Unlike many other choirs, the Chansonettes are not professional singers. ``These are untrained singers - some of them read music; some of them do not,'' said Dorothy Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. , the group's 83-year-old director. ``What's so special is the way we sound. People do not expect to hear such professionalism from a small group.'' Cohen, who has been a member since 1975, became director about 20 years ago. It was during that time that the group moved its base of operations Noun 1. base of operations - installation from which a military force initiates operations; "the attack wiped out our forward bases" base air base, air station - a base for military aircraft army base - a large base of operations for an army from Los Angeles to the San Fernando Valley. ``Without Dorothy we wouldn't have a group,'' Franklin said. ``We're a great group because of her.'' Cohen says she strives for excellence. ``I'm tough. The girls will tell you I'm tough, but it shows,'' she says. ``You don't expect to hear such alive voices; you'd expect that from a younger choir.'' The Chansonettes rehearse from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday at the Northridge Recreation Center, 18300 Lemarsh St. The group is always in need of sopranos, second sopranos and altos. For more information, call Dorothy Cohen at (818) 363-9121. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The San Fernando Valley-based Chansonettes sing at a Daughters of the American Revolution Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a Colonial patriotic society in the United States, open to women having one or more ancestors who aided the cause of the Revolution. The society was organized (1890) at Washington, D.C. meeting at the Calabasas Inn. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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