Choir must do community service

May 26, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

On a recent Monday evening, David Brown was inhaling peanut-butter crackers (“for protein”) and Coca-Cola (“the caffeine”) in a seating alcove at the Bar of Modern Art.

The fuel, though basic, was necessary: For the next 90 minutes, the 46-year-old Brown would become a shoeless, sweat-drenched fireball — hands flailing, body moving about the cavernous downtown venue and mouth letting loose with directions at a rapid clip.

“I’m talking to you nice because the press is here,” Brown said in a slight Southern drawl, admonishing idle chatter among vocalists not pulling their weight.

“I don’t care what’s going on. I want you to be in this moment.”

Although the Louisiana native and former Capital University student refers to his managerial style as “total drill sergeant ... [with] in-your-face screaming and yelling,” the approach differs markedly from the mood and mission of his baby: a 135-member choir dubbed the Harmony Project.

The ensemble, open to anyone, attracts participants from throughout central Ohio in an experiment blending diversity, philanthropy and music.

The members sing, of course — a mix of rock tunes, gospel spirituals and inspirational fare composed by Brown — but they are also required to complete community-service work.

“If you don’t serve,” Brown said, “you don’t sing.”

The results seemingly speak to the small-is-big mentality: Spare change adds up; a landscape is altered by a few volunteer hours — collectively tallied.

By having singers solicit $10 and $20 donations during a recent two-week period, the Harmony Project raised $15,000 — enough to purchase a grand piano for the Lincoln Theatre, where the group will perform sold-out shows today and Thursday.

They raised $10,000 more to buy 100 trees for Columbus.

Vocalists also placed food boxes or coin banks at their workplaces and in businesses.

U.S. Bank and the First Bexley Bank will count the collections this week and write checks to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

“Even if we’re not touching people directly” through song, said Harmony Project singer and Columbus preschool teacher Bobbi Townes, 25, “we’re touching them through the grapevine. I think that adds a sense of passion and drive.”