Buckhead volunteer supports underrepresented performers.
Huiling Chen’s childhood was filled with music, from opera and ballet to being in her college marching band. It’s a passion she’s carried into adulthood in Buckhead, where her world outside of work with Lexis- Nexus is dedicated to the arts. Here, she speaks about her devotion to supporting the lesser-known artists in the city’s cultural scene.
What was your first exposure to the arts?
I grew up in Cincinnati, and when I was a kid, my mom took us to the ballet and opera. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen The Nutcracker. I developed an affinity for music and played clarinet and was in the marching band all through college at the University of Cincinnati. I always enjoyed the camaraderie that comes with that.
How did you find the arts scene in Atlanta?
My spouse worked with Coke, and we moved here in 2006 when our son was 2. I was immediately amazed at the arts community and its diversity, from the Fox to the Woodruff Arts Center. We took our son to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s youth concerts. I was also taken with the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus that are under the umbrella group of Voices of Note. A friend was on the board and invited me to join.
What drew you to that particular organization?
First, I was—and am—really impressed with the performances, the people involved, the passion for sharing music by people who are underrepresented. The social equity element is really important to me. I saw people taking a lot of time out of their busy days to come together and sing. I was also drawn to the mission statement that resonated with me: to change hearts and minds through music. I wanted to be a part of that to help this organization grow.
How do you support that mission?
I’m a patron of the arts; I don’t sing! My duties revolve around furthering the mission. I’ve been on the board about a year and have been engaging in development and getting involved in the technology around archiving performances. I also volunteer at performances for both groups. They each have separate performances at various venues; in the past, they’ve been at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Buckhead and the Byers Theatre in Sandy Springs. This spring, we have a show This Is Me at the Glenn Memorial Methodist Church on the Emory campus. That will be the first time in 10 years the two choruses will perform together. It will take a thought-provoking look at body image. And in June, the men’s chorus will perform with the Atlanta Symphony.
How big are these groups?
The men’s chorus has 166 members, and the women have about 96 active singers. Anyone interested can audition, and we’re always happy for new people to join.
What do you see as your long-range goals with this group?
I believe we still have an underrepresented arts community. My goal is to serve and help this organization along those lines.
VOICES OF NOTE
470.960.9359
voicesofnote.org
@agmchorus
@awchorus
