CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE —Choir director Joyce Culwell knows when to be firm and insist singers clean up a section, and when to commend them on a job well done.
“I want to compliment the sopranos,” the long-time music director said last week at a rehearsal of her recently launched outreach choir, Never on Sunday.
The group was practicing a version of “Renew Me, O Eternal Light” when Culwell heard something she felt was particularly ear- pleasing.
“There, at the end of Page 2. I don’t know what you did there, but you just kind of blew up with the wind,” Culwell said. “Let’s keep that.”
Never on Sunday rehearses on the second and fourth Wednesday evenings of each month at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Cherry Hills Village.
But the 20-member, multidenominational chorus — which is looking to add members — is more than just a group of vocal music lovers.
The group offers its talents to small or struggling churches and nonprofit groups seeking to raise money or otherwise liven up special events. The choir appears for free in hopes their singing will benefit host groups in one way or another, Culwell said.
“We come, we sing, we go,” she said succinctly. “They can sell tickets, ask for donations, serve food, whatever they want to do.”
Culwell has a master’s degree in music education and choral conducting from the University of Colorado College of Music. She was the music director at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Centennial for 20 years.
Never on Sunday got started after Culwell took members of St. Timothy’s on a singing tour of southwest England in 2014. When they returned, the group wanted to continue singing together, so Culwell suggested a nondenominational outreach choir aimed at doing good works locally. She sent letters inviting singers of any skill level from surrounding Arapahoe County-area churches and, in October, Never on Sunday — named simply for the fact that its members attend church on Sunday mornings and cannot perform during that time — was born.
So far, the group has made just one appearance: a March 31 concert during a weekly event held at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Mary in Denver.
It was a memorable one.
St. Clare’s Ministries are held on Tuesday evenings and cater to homeless and poor people in the Baker neighborhood, providing food, donated clothing and fellowship, according to clergy volunteer Rebecca Jones.
“When we got there, Rev. Becky told us, ‘Remember the homeless have not heard beauty in a long time,’ ” Culwell recalled of the performance. “We were so well-received.”
“I think it meant a very great deal to them. They applauded after every song,” Jones added of the attendees. “This was a level of performance that we just don’t get at St. Clare’s. And it was clear to everybody who was in the church that night that we had witnessed something extraordinary.”
Never on Sunday is planning to return to St. Clare’s every month that has a fifth Tuesday, Culwell said.
Nikki Vitkus attended her second rehearsal last week. The recently retired Centennial resident — formerly part of a vocal music group for moms for 20 years — said she loves Never on Sunday’s mission and is happy to be part of it.
“It’s a way to give back to the community, which I haven’t had much time to do in the last 10 years,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to use our gifts and talents.”
Elizabeth Dries is among the St. Timothy’s choir members who started Never on Sunday. She believes strongly in the uplifting power of song.
“I love it. I just love it,” Dries said of the outreach choir. “There’s nothing that music cannot affect. It’s just such a part of life.”
Joe Rubino: 303-954-2953 or jrubino@denverpost.com
Never on sunday
If you’d like Never on Sunday to appear at your event, contact Joyce Culwell at 303-888-9408.
