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Open Voices is a non-auditioned mixed voice adult choir that was started in January 2002 by a group of musically minded friends. They had met at other summer choir events directed by Andy Rush, such as the Blue Skies Music Festival and Camp Hyanto, and they saw the need for a choir who would sing outside of the summer season. They approached Andy with an offer to help him form one. He researched the methods used by other community choirs, found a model that he liked, and formed a board of director's with his friends. The board then started laying the groundwork to form Open Voices Community Choir.

When they were ready, they posted ads in Kingston and area newspapers and invited "all those who love to sing" to join them at one of 2 try-out nights. There was no need to have a background in music and provisions were made to overcome the traditional barriers that would prevent someone from joining an evening event. These provisions included transportation, childcare, subsidized membership and accommodations for a person with a disability. A telephone hotline had been set up to handle inquiries or to request one of the above named services.

The purpose of the try-out night was to allow people an opportunity to sing in a choir and to get a “feel” for the choir experience before making a commitment. If, at the end of the evening, they still wanted to join, applications were available to register. The goal was to attract a membership to Open Voices who came from a mixed musical, cultural, religious, and social background and who had a willingness to learn from, and to help, each other.

When the advertisements were posted to attract membership for Open Voices, there was the expectation that it would attract 50 or 60 people. Little did they know their ad would attract 279 potential choir members and the room they had rented was too small. All of a sudden they found themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to split the choir into two terms, and determining the membership for each, by lottery. It was unfortunate that a number of people ended up with their names on a waiting list.

The following year, Open Voices Community Choir attempted to remedy the situation by renting a bigger space and doubling the size of the choir. The year was split into three terms and members were given the choice of singing in two. The disadvantage was that they now had to hold three concerts and they had less time to prepare for them in. The following year the year was split into two and choir members were given the choice of singing in one term or two.

Open Voices Community Choir has evolved into a choir with an average membership of 120 members per term and they continue to be the choir of choice in Kingston. The turnover is low and vacancies often end up being available for men. This is because male voices are traditionally harder to get. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have the number of men that we do.