When Mimi Bornstein invited singers to participate in a performance of Paul Winter’s Missa Gaia in celebration of Earth Day in 2005, she was shocked that more than 130 singers showed up to sing. The concert attracted an audience of 800 and raised $10,000 for the Tanglewood 4-H Camp. Ms. Bornstein’s vision to “harness the power of music to build community and change lives” was formalized in September 2007 when she founded the Midcoast Community Chorus.
The group’s vision statement is a testament to music's transformative power: “When we sing, we change who we are. When we change who we are we change the world.” MCC is a 140-voice, multi-generational, non-auditioned chorus offering a supportive environment for anyone twelve years and older who wants to sing. “Performing music of hope, healing, transformation and peace from all over the world, singers are given a place to find voice for themselves and give voice to some of the issues of our time.” The program has grown to include a children’s choir for ages 6-12 and a 50-voice auditioned adult chorale. MCC provides musical education programs, monthly community sing programs, workshops and film screenings all designed to further support its mission.
Over the years, the group’s June concerts have raised over $75,000 in proceeds that have been donated to non-profits such as Knox County Homeless Coalition, The Restorative Justice Project of the Midcoast, Maine Farmland Trust, Five Town Communities That Care, Knox County Health Clinic, AIO Food Pantry, and New Hope for Women. Ms. Bornstein’s commitment to “harnessing the power of music to build community and change lives” is unwavering, and MCC continues to demonstrate the power of the human voice to change the world one song at a time.
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