Ann Arbor Bicycle Choir combines members’ passion for singing and cycling

When Dorothy Nordness heard about the Ann Arbor Bicycle
Choir, she was intrigued. It was “just odd enough to sound really
fun,” she said.

“When you tell somebody you’re in a bicycle choir they raise
their eyebrows and say, ‘What? What do you do?'” said the Ann Arbor
woman, who is an alto in the choir.

The choir, which has about 10 regularly participating members,
was formed in 2009 and has performed at a variety of community
events, sometimes with bikes, and sometimes without.

The group can also be spotted singing while pedaling through
town, whether on individual bicycles or on a circular conference
bike that seats several.

Anyone is welcome to join and no formal musical training is
required. The four-part choir is in particular need of tenors, but
all parts could use additional voices, Nordness said.

A recent performance included The Ark’s 9th Annual Concert for
Peace earlier this month. The group, donning cycling helmets and
apparel, performed a song called “Mass Ride.”

When asked why she joined the choir, Nordness said, “Biking and
singing, what else?”

Lynn Babcock, an Ann Arbor resident who is also an alto in the
choir, said singing while riding the conference bike, especially,
is great fun and grabs attention.

She said the group strives to “increase bicycle usage” as they
“play a very important role in sustainable
transportation.”