Press Release: Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces FREE Pop-Up Choir Event for All Ages and Abilities
August 1, 2025
Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces
FREE Pop-Up Choir Event for All Ages and Abilities
Joyful singing event will provide connection, community and healing as dozens of participants perform “Defying Gravity” together
Tuesday, August 12 from 6PM-9PM at SPAC School of the Arts
Saratoga Springs, NY (August 1, 2025) — Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announces its first “Pop-Up Choir” event welcoming singers of all ages and abilities to experience an evening of joyful singing and community. Aligned with SPAC’s mission to make art inclusive and accessible to all, the event will foster connection, expression, healing, and release as participants collaboratively perform “Defying Gravity” from the popular musical and film Wicked. Presented by SPAC Education, the “Pop-Up Choir” event is slated for Tuesday, August 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at SPAC School of the Arts. The event is free, however advance registration at spac.org is required.
“At SPAC, we believe in the arts not just as performance, but as a pathway to healing, connection, and belonging. Singing together— something as simple and joyful as raising our voices in unison—has been shown to reduce stress, elevate mood, and even strengthen the immune system. Our Pop-Up Choir is not about perfection or performance—it’s about community, joy, and the powerful act of shared music making,” says Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “A special thanks to our incredible SPAC education team for their creativity in developing this new program, which promises to be engaging and uplifting for all who participate.”
“We’re thrilled to launch our first Pop-Up Choir—a welcoming, one-day opportunity for anyone to experience the joy of singing in a group. Bringing people together through the arts is at the heart of our mission, and this event reflects our deep belief in the proven power of creative expression to lift spirits and support overall wellness,” says Dennis Moench, SPAC’s VP of Education.
SPAC’s launch of this one-day “Pop-Up Choir” is reflective of a larger phenomenon across the country to bring together different communities for improvisatory, low-commitment singing gatherings that prioritize connection and harmony. The “Pop-Up Choir” event on August 12 will feature playful music-making, conversation, and time to break into groups by part, culminating in a final performance.
Pop-Up Choir: Defying Gravity
Tuesday, August 12 | 6–9 PM
SPAC School of the Arts
Join Saratoga Performing Arts Center for its first-ever “Pop-Up Choir”—a free, unforgettable evening of joyful singing, connection and community with the SPAC School of the Arts Pop-Up Choir. Participants of all ages and abilities will collaboratively perform “Defying Gravity” by Stephen Schwartz, arranged by Matt Goldstein and Kenter Davies, in a welcoming, low-pressure environment. No experience necessary—just bring your voice and your enthusiasm. Sheet music and practice recordings will be provided ahead of time.
- Experience the mental and physical benefits of group singing, from stress relief to boosted mood.
• Build community through a shared musical experience—no auditions, no pressure.
• Celebrate creativity and connection through the simple act of raising your voice with others.
Visit spac.org for more details or to register.
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Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.
About SPAC Education:
Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s education programs reach over 50,000 individuals, offer more than 1,500 classes and events, and partner with 120+ schools and nonprofit organizations across the Saratoga, Adirondack, and Capital Regions of New York State. SPAC Education provides arts access to people of all ages, abilities, and demographics, while prioritizing historically marginalized groups and identities. Flagship offerings include the “Classical Kids” in-school music and dance program; “SPAC Dance Project” in-school dance residencies; “Access the Arts” weekly classes for adults from local day habilitation programs; the “Creative Connections” Saturday program for children from local youth-serving organizations; the “Summer Nights at SPAC” outreach initiative, providing transportation, meals, and performance tickets to families from under-resourced communities; and the “Festival of Young Artists,” an annual event that brings together and celebrates hundreds of student dancers, singers, musicians, poets, and visual artists. Additional music, theater, and dance programs are offered year-round at SPAC School of the Arts, a state-of-the-art educational facility dedicated to furthering SPAC’s mission to promote inclusion, equity, and access.
The SPAC School operates out of the Lewis A. Swyer Studios on the National Museum of Dance campus in Saratoga Spa State Park. www.spacschool.org