“I wanted to create a chorus that had no fixed vocal boundaries, as in women’s, men’s or mixed chorus,” she says. “Same goes for the vocal arrangements.”
In October, 36 men and women, including teenagers, began rehearsals for Fluidity. Several women sing tenor and one is a bass singer undergoing gender transition. Most of the choral arrangements are labeled as soprano, alto, tenor and bass without regard to gender, but at least one is specifically for men’s voices.
Fluidity is not the first choir Juliano has created. In 2002, she founded Diverse Harmony in Seattle, the first choir for LGBTQ youth and allies. It started off with only 12 kids. But at the 2004 Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses festival in Montreal, Diverse Harmony stole the show and subsequently appeared in the 2005 documentary Why We Sing. Today, Diverse Harmony has more than 50 members.
As important as Fluidity’s music is to Juliano, its mission carries equal importance. “I kept thinking, ‘How can this chorus make a difference in our community?’ And the concept of paying it forward came to mind,” she says.
“When I moved to Cincinnati from Seattle three years ago, I was impressed with the number of nonprofits really engaged with the community. There are so many we don’t know about, and what excites me is how we can support and promote these groups through our singing.”
Fluidity concerts will be designed as social events that educate the audience about a nonprofit agency and present music that supports the theme, with the program clocking in at less than an hour.
Juliano decided on feeding the hungry for the first program’s theme, but she wanted to find a lesser-known organization to help.
She made a match at the Social Enterprise Cincy summit in October, at a roundtable discussion with Suzy DeYoung, founder and chef of La Soupe, an organization that provides food and education where the need is greatest.
“When I told Suzy what Fluidity was about, she said, ‘You should pick us!’ ” Juliano says. “When I told her what our theme was, it was a perfect fit.”
Established in 2013, La Soupe rescues nearly “expired” produce donated by Kroger, Jungle Jim’s and Trader Joes to create healthy soups that are either sold or donated to area food banks.
“La nourriture,” the name of Fluidity’s debut concert, is French for nourishment. The program features songs about cheese, chocolate, coffee and drinking your fill.
“We’re singing ‘Bittersweet Tango’ and ‘Carmina Ricotta,’ both by Cincinnati native Eric Lane Barnes,” Juliano says.
Another song, “Berusa er,” means “drink your fill” in Swedish, and it will be sung to a Haitian beat.
There is also one outright Pop classic on the program — a six-part arrangement of “Bohemian Rhapsody” with MYCincinnati director Eddy Kwon on electric violin.
The program is ambitious and has its challenges, especially for chorus members with less choral experience. But they all agree on the supportive environment, especially Raya Schweitzer, who is in the process of gender transition.
“I am trying to build a healthy self-identity and a better voice during this time, and the acceptance has been great,” Schweitzer says in an email.
Audience members will hear from DeYoung and have a chance to sample some of La Soupe’s creations. Dinner by the bite, provided by New Riff’s catering staff, follows the concert. Audience, choir members and La Soupe representatives can interact.
Fluidity’s June concert will benefit Groundwork Cincinnati - Mill Creek.
Fluidity presents LA NOURRITURE 6:30 p.m. Friday at New Riff Distillery in Newport. Tickets/more info: fluiditycccc.org.
