Regular Sings
A Regular sing, sometimes called a "Practice" sing, is a regularly or semi-regularly scheduled sings that usually happen on a weekly or monthly basis. These sings are typically less formal than Annual Conventions, or other "Big" sings. These are great places to learn the tradition, new songs, practice leading, and meet other singers!
Below is a list of groups that meet regularly in North Carolina to sing. If you have questions about any particular Regular sing, please use the contact information listed for each group. Most groups will have loaner books available.
If it's your first time or you're traveling some distance, it's a good idea to check with the listed contact to confirm that a sing on a particular date is happening. Some groups also maintain mailing lists you can join for updates; please check with the organizer.
Asheville (Swannanoa)
When: Monthly, every 3rd Sunday during the school year. 3:00pm - 5:00pm
This group does not meet in June, July, or August.
Where: Steve Williams Recital Hall, Warren Wilson College
Contact: Sarah ([email protected])
Boone
When: Monthly, every 4th Tuesday of the month, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Great Room at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 170 Councill Street, Boone, NC 28607
Contact: Eli and Lynda ([email protected])
Singing from The Christian Harmony
Brasstown
When: First Mondays (except July 3rd), 7:00 - 9:00pm
Where: Keith House Community Room, John C. Campbell Folk School (One Folk School Rd, Brasstown, NC 28902)
Contact: Stefani (828-837-2775 ext. 118, or [email protected])
Charlotte
When/Where: Irregular, check the group's Facebook Page
Singing from The Sacred Harp (1991)
Durham
When: Monthly, every 2nd Sunday. 2:00pm - 4:00pm (started again in September, 2022)
Where: Five Oaks Seventh Day Adventist Church (4124 Farrington Rd, Durham, NC)
Contact: Kaleb ([email protected])
Singing from The Sacred Harp (1991) and The Shenandoah Harmony
More details: Triangle Shape Note on Facebook
Raleigh
When: Monthly, every 4th Sunday. 2:00 - 4:00pm
Where: Mordecai Historic Park (unless stated otherwise), St Mark's Chapel, (1 Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC 27604)
Contact: Mary ([email protected])
Singing from The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony
More details: Triangle Shape Note on Facebook
Winston-Salem
When: Monthly, every 2nd Sunday. 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Where: St. Anne's Episcopal Church (2690 Fairlawn Dr., Winston-Salem, NC 27106)
Contact: Tom ([email protected])
Singing from The Sacred Harp (1991) and Shenandoah Harmony
Annual/All-Day Sings, Conventions, Camps, & Singing Schools
An Annual Sing, often called an All-Day Sing, are usually much larger singing events that attract people from all over. These events often feature a potluck-style Dinner-On-The-Grounds, a Memorial Lesson, and multiple hours of singing. These events are usually organized by a local group and have more structure to them than a regular sing might. There are usually officers who preside over the proceedings, and an arranging committee to organize song leaders. These events can be great first-time experiences for many singers who wish to be immersed fully in the tradition.
Camps and Singing Schools are great places to go to learn new skills and history associated with the shape note singing tradition, meet singers from all over, and of course, sing!
First Annual Winston-Salem All-Day Singing
When: Saturday, October 12th, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm (with additional singing on Sunday, October 13th)
Where: Fries Memorial Moravian Church, 251 N Hawthorne Rd Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Singing from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition
Dinner on the Grounds, Social Saturday evening TBD.
Contact: Corinne Serfass ([email protected])
View the flyer for more details
Annual NC Shape Note Convention
When: March 8, 2025, 9:30am-3:30pm
Where: Pullen Memorial Church (Chapel), 1801 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27605
Singing from The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony
Dinner on the Grounds
Contact: Mary ([email protected])
See the Facebook event for more details and parking information
The Quay Smathers Memorial Singing School
When: TBD
Where: The Shook-Smathers House in Clyde, NC (178 Morgan St.)
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Website
Etowah Spring Singing
When: May 6, 2023 (Saturday before the First Sunday in May)
Where: Etowah Lions Club - Hendersonville, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: Diane Eskenasy ([email protected])
Calvary-Fletcher Singing
When: June 10, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm (Saturday before the Second Sunday in June)
Where: Calvary Episcopal Church - Fletcher, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: Dan Huger ([email protected])
28th John Campbell Folk School Singing
When: Saturday, July 8, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm
Where: TBD, John C. Campbell Folk School
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2010) and The Sacred Harp (1991)
Website
The Swannanoa Gathering Shape Note Singing
When: Saturday, July 22, 2023 10am - 3pm
Where: Warren Wilson College - Swannanoa, NC
Singing from The Sacred Harp, Christian Harmony (2010), & Southern Harmony
Contact: Sarah Kehrberg ([email protected])
Camp DoReMi
When: TBD
Where: Wild Acres Retreat, Little Switzerland, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2010) and The New Harp of Columbia
Website
Etowah Fall Singing
When: September 2, 2023 (Saturday before the First Sunday in September)
Where: Etowah Lions Club - Hendersonville, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: Diane Eskenasy ([email protected])
Old Folks Day Singing
When: TBD
Where: Morning Star United Methodist Church - Canton, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: June Smathers Jolley ([email protected])
Mountain Heritage Day
When: September 30, 2023 (Last Saturday in September)
Where: Western Carolina University - Cullowhee, NC
Singing from The Sacred Harp (1991) & The Christian Harmony (2010)
Contact: Will Peebles ([email protected])
Swannanoa Valley Singing
When: November 11, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm (Saturday before the Second Sunday in November)
Where: St. James Episcopal Church - Black Mountain, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage) & The Christian Harmony (2010)
Contact: Joe Holbert ([email protected])
Singing on the River
When: November 18, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm (Saturday before Thanksgiving)
Where: Madison County Arts Building - Marshall, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: Laura Boosinger ([email protected])
Zack Allen ([email protected])
A Regular sing, sometimes called a "Practice" sing, is a regularly or semi-regularly scheduled sings that usually happen on a weekly or monthly basis. These sings are typically less formal than Annual Conventions, or other "Big" sings. These are great places to learn the tradition, new songs, practice leading, and meet other singers!
Below is a list of groups that meet regularly in North Carolina to sing. If you have questions about any particular Regular sing, please use the contact information listed for each group. Most groups will have loaner books available.
If it's your first time or you're traveling some distance, it's a good idea to check with the listed contact to confirm that a sing on a particular date is happening. Some groups also maintain mailing lists you can join for updates; please check with the organizer.
Asheville (Swannanoa)
When: Monthly, every 3rd Sunday during the school year. 3:00pm - 5:00pm
This group does not meet in June, July, or August.
Where: Steve Williams Recital Hall, Warren Wilson College
Contact: Sarah ([email protected])
Boone
When: Monthly, every 4th Tuesday of the month, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Great Room at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 170 Councill Street, Boone, NC 28607
Contact: Eli and Lynda ([email protected])
Singing from The Christian Harmony
Brasstown
When: First Mondays (except July 3rd), 7:00 - 9:00pm
Where: Keith House Community Room, John C. Campbell Folk School (One Folk School Rd, Brasstown, NC 28902)
Contact: Stefani (828-837-2775 ext. 118, or [email protected])
Charlotte
When/Where: Irregular, check the group's Facebook Page
Singing from The Sacred Harp (1991)
Durham
When: Monthly, every 2nd Sunday. 2:00pm - 4:00pm (started again in September, 2022)
Where: Five Oaks Seventh Day Adventist Church (4124 Farrington Rd, Durham, NC)
Contact: Kaleb ([email protected])
Singing from The Sacred Harp (1991) and The Shenandoah Harmony
More details: Triangle Shape Note on Facebook
Raleigh
When: Monthly, every 4th Sunday. 2:00 - 4:00pm
Where: Mordecai Historic Park (unless stated otherwise), St Mark's Chapel, (1 Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC 27604)
Contact: Mary ([email protected])
Singing from The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony
More details: Triangle Shape Note on Facebook
Winston-Salem
When: Monthly, every 2nd Sunday. 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Where: St. Anne's Episcopal Church (2690 Fairlawn Dr., Winston-Salem, NC 27106)
Contact: Tom ([email protected])
Singing from The Sacred Harp (1991) and Shenandoah Harmony
Annual/All-Day Sings, Conventions, Camps, & Singing Schools
An Annual Sing, often called an All-Day Sing, are usually much larger singing events that attract people from all over. These events often feature a potluck-style Dinner-On-The-Grounds, a Memorial Lesson, and multiple hours of singing. These events are usually organized by a local group and have more structure to them than a regular sing might. There are usually officers who preside over the proceedings, and an arranging committee to organize song leaders. These events can be great first-time experiences for many singers who wish to be immersed fully in the tradition.
Camps and Singing Schools are great places to go to learn new skills and history associated with the shape note singing tradition, meet singers from all over, and of course, sing!
First Annual Winston-Salem All-Day Singing
When: Saturday, October 12th, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm (with additional singing on Sunday, October 13th)
Where: Fries Memorial Moravian Church, 251 N Hawthorne Rd Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Singing from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition
Dinner on the Grounds, Social Saturday evening TBD.
Contact: Corinne Serfass ([email protected])
View the flyer for more details
Annual NC Shape Note Convention
When: March 8, 2025, 9:30am-3:30pm
Where: Pullen Memorial Church (Chapel), 1801 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27605
Singing from The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony
Dinner on the Grounds
Contact: Mary ([email protected])
See the Facebook event for more details and parking information
The Quay Smathers Memorial Singing School
When: TBD
Where: The Shook-Smathers House in Clyde, NC (178 Morgan St.)
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Website
Etowah Spring Singing
When: May 6, 2023 (Saturday before the First Sunday in May)
Where: Etowah Lions Club - Hendersonville, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: Diane Eskenasy ([email protected])
Calvary-Fletcher Singing
When: June 10, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm (Saturday before the Second Sunday in June)
Where: Calvary Episcopal Church - Fletcher, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: Dan Huger ([email protected])
28th John Campbell Folk School Singing
When: Saturday, July 8, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm
Where: TBD, John C. Campbell Folk School
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2010) and The Sacred Harp (1991)
Website
The Swannanoa Gathering Shape Note Singing
When: Saturday, July 22, 2023 10am - 3pm
Where: Warren Wilson College - Swannanoa, NC
Singing from The Sacred Harp, Christian Harmony (2010), & Southern Harmony
Contact: Sarah Kehrberg ([email protected])
Camp DoReMi
When: TBD
Where: Wild Acres Retreat, Little Switzerland, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2010) and The New Harp of Columbia
Website
Etowah Fall Singing
When: September 2, 2023 (Saturday before the First Sunday in September)
Where: Etowah Lions Club - Hendersonville, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: Diane Eskenasy ([email protected])
Old Folks Day Singing
When: TBD
Where: Morning Star United Methodist Church - Canton, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: June Smathers Jolley ([email protected])
Mountain Heritage Day
When: September 30, 2023 (Last Saturday in September)
Where: Western Carolina University - Cullowhee, NC
Singing from The Sacred Harp (1991) & The Christian Harmony (2010)
Contact: Will Peebles ([email protected])
Swannanoa Valley Singing
When: November 11, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm (Saturday before the Second Sunday in November)
Where: St. James Episcopal Church - Black Mountain, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage) & The Christian Harmony (2010)
Contact: Joe Holbert ([email protected])
Singing on the River
When: November 18, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm (Saturday before Thanksgiving)
Where: Madison County Arts Building - Marshall, NC
Singing from The Christian Harmony (2015 Folk Heritage)
Contact: Laura Boosinger ([email protected])
Zack Allen ([email protected])