By Catherine O’Hara • REVIEW STAFF

Beverly Shepard is giving it another go.

In 2010, the Freelton resident put a call out to women in the community interested in forming a special choir. The plan was that together, the group would perform a concert benefitting Grandmothers to Grandmothers, a Stephen Lewis Foundation initiative that supports African grandmothers who are left to care for their grandchildren orphaned by AIDS.

Shepard received a solid response from Flamborough and area women eager to participate. But because of other commitments and previous engagements, many of the members had to step away from the project.

Shepard watched as her initial group of 20 dwindled down to six women. Still, she was keen on seeing her project through. After a year-long hiatus, she is at it again, appealing to female members of the Flamborough community to join the choir.

The music director and composer of Village Theatre’s production, Leaving Home, Coming Home, Shepard has worked on a variety of projects over the course of her career. An experienced choir director, she led the Consort of Friends for roughly 20 years in Hamilton and directed the musicians in Hamilton’s The Joymakers.

Now, she’s eager to put her talents and skillset to work to benefit the Grandmothers to Grandmothers initiative.

Women, the Africa Project will feature original songs, written and composed by Shepard. Songs from Africa will also be performed and include the popular South African hymn, Siyahamba.

Shepard carefully selected a variety of songs for the choir’s yet to be determined performances, many of which will help draw audience members into the spirit of the presentation. The concert, she explained, not only aims to raise funds for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers initiative, it hopes to highlight Africa’s beauty and culture.

“Africa is not just a place where they have droughts and famine and conflict and AIDS,” she said. “It’s a beautiful continent with much variety in geography and people, a very rich culture, and some very specific needs.”

Women, the Africa Project was penned in a way that is meant to avoid appropriation of voice, a storytelling technique that sees people of one culture present themselves as those of another culture.

“It’s when you try to act as though you are some other group that you aren’t authentically a part of,” she explained, adding that many professional storytellers try to avoid it.

The storytelling techniques Shepard has used in her most recent endeavour have received the support of her African friends, who have reviewed the materials and expressed their enthusiasm for the project.

The performance, which will run an hour or so, will touch on a variety of themes that will be joined together by a powerful narrative.

While Shepard is putting the call out to all interested women who can hold a tune, she’s particularly looking for sopranos who are available to meet once a week. As well, she is looking for people who can play the flute, the recorder and the drums.

Although Shepard’s Freelton home features a music room, outfitted with a piano, she would like to rehearse in a concert-like space. Churches or other facilities in the community interested in opening their doors to the group, free of charge, are encouraged to contact Shepard.

“I think it would be a wonderful thing to participate in,” said Shepard. “I think the cause is excellent and I think it might become something a number of places would be willing to have us perform in their space.”

To learn more about Women, the Africa Project or to participate in the production, contact Shepard at 905-659-6119 or beverly_shepard@sympatico.ca.