More Than Music: The Shared Meal at the Heart of Our Oratorio Journey

In the Vox Chamber Choir, something special happens every time we come together for Saturday rehearsals. Yes, there’s the music—the beautiful harmonies, the sacred text, the careful shaping of phrases, the joy of building a sound that transcends individual voices. But just as vital to our journey toward the Oratorio performance is something quieter, more everyday: the sharing of meals during our rehearsal breaks.

At lunchtime, tables become micro gathering spaces. Snack boards, oven dishes and Tupperware containers opened like gifts. The food is packed out in the style of a harvest table and everyone contributes. There is always more than enough. And slowly, as plates are filled and the meal begins, the community deepens.

These moments are not incidental. They are integral.

The voice is an extension of the self—a unique channel for our emotions, thoughts, and identity. When we sing together, we do more than make music; we experience belonging, joy, and vulnerability. But that vulnerability—essential to authentic ensemble work—needs trust. It needs warmth. It needs lunch.

Studies found that choir singing boosts mood and reduces stress. But perhaps the secret lies not only in the act of singing but also in what surrounds it. The quiet laughter over coffee. The spontaneous harmonies when someone hums a fragment of a melody between bites. The wide-ranging conversations about everything and nothing.

These shared meals become rituals of care. They reflect what our music expresses: love, patience, intimacy, and connection.

In the beautiful photographs taken during these breaks, there’s a kind of parallel music: the music of community. Plates and cups become instruments of welcome. Smiles and stories, the rhythm of belonging. We come from different walks of life, but around these tables, we find common ground. We are fed—musically, emotionally, and physically.

As we prepare for our upcoming Oratorio, we are aware that the performance is not the only destination. The journey is already sacred. The shared meals, like the shared music, remind us that what we create together is far more than the sum of its parts.

And when we finally raise our voices in performance, the audience will hear more than rehearsed harmony. They’ll hear friendship…often deepened during lunch breaks.

They’ll hear well-nourished love, phrasing and acceptance.

We hope to see you there!

With gratitude,

Anja