Contact Info
Email: grlinda@comcast.net
Short Biography
Bass, Board Secretary
Long Biography
Name: Linda Troyer
How long with the chorus - 10 years
Why am I here?
At around the age of 50, I realized I wasn't having quite enough fun in my life. I had 20 years of experience working in training departments for large companies, had started and sold a business, and was (and still am) working on my own in the nonprofit world. I was way too focused on work and had a lot of family responsibilities. I needed to lighten up and do something I enjoyed - something just for me.
One of the singers who was a client at the time talked me into buying tickets to hear the Grand Rapids Women's Chorus sing. I've always loved singing - especially harmony, and I was captivated by the selections the chorus sang that night. So I auditioned without knowing what to expect.
What I found was a community of women who could not be more different as personalities, but who share the love of singing. We come together weekly for 9 months out of the year, and our focus for that weekly 2 hour rehearsal is making the absolute best sound we can as a chorus. Everything else seems to be set aside for 2 hours.
Not all the songs we sing become personal favorites, but each song is usually someone's favorite! We are lead by an artistic director who exudes passion in everything she does, and has the ability to draw that same passion out of the singers. Two associate directors play huge roles in our musical development.
My experience in the working world over the years is that too many women in one office could result in a very emotionally-charged environment - and sometimes in minimizing of the worth of others. I see just the opposite in this chorus. Not sure why that is, but it's one of the many reasons why I stay.
And as a bonus - I'm so proud of being a part of this group of women who care genuinely care about the world around them...not just their own individual domains. This group walks the talk, from recycling to being active in social causes to supporting one another in times of need. These women consistently make choices because "it's the right thing to do."
(pictured with friends Nelson and Mark at 2007 Spring Concert)
