Coastline Arts’ founder and director, Colleen Wall. Photo by Coastline Arts
Coastline Arts is celebrating 10 years in San Luis Obispo County, offering classes, workshops and performance groups where one can discover, or rekindle, the joys of the performing arts.
Their spring season wrapped up last month with a popular “road show” to retirement and elder-care facilities, featuring the Coastline Arts Choirs who are taught, rehearsed and conducted by Coastline Arts’ founder and director, Colleen Wall.
“Colleen’s wonderful singers always bring so much joy to our residents,” said Oscar Buenrostro, community enrichment director for the Rose Care Group, in San Luis Obispo, one of the road show venues. “They enrich our seniors’ lives with beautiful songs that bring up memories and emotions for all of us.”
The season also featured events at the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos, where audiences enjoyed “A Night to Shine” in February, with vocalists braving the spotlight, often for the first time. And in March, the theater/improvisation group Small Town Players performed light-hearted skits interspersed with audience-participation trivia contests.
Coastline Arts began with a vision to make the performing arts accessible to all — veteran musicians as well as those desiring creative self-expression. Colleen had recently retired from 20 years as a high school music educator when an opportunity arose to partner with Hearst Cancer Resource Center to bring music – specifically singing with others – to patients and their caregivers.
Coastline Arts now includes the original Singing for Hope choir, the Small Town Players, a vocal chamber ensemble, and a women’s ensemble, all under Colleen’s direction — she is the sole proprietor and organizer. Additionally, Colleen offers voice and piano lessons at her Los Osos studio.
Today, Coastline Arts includes upwards of 100 members and is open to all ages 14 and up.
“Many are retirees for whom the opportunity to pursue the performing arts while making new friends is among the best perks of this time of life,” Colleen said. “Everyone in the community can benefit from opportunities to connect with neighbors and friends, while nurturing their own creativity and self-expression. In celebration of life’s joys and victories, or as antidotes to the challenges and strife of our times, performing arts are a wonderful way to manifest joy, solace, and hope.”
The Singing for Hope choir meets every Tuesday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos.
Choir member Jean Moelter appreciates the benefits of Coastline Arts. “There’s nothing as joyful as singing in a group,” she said. “Using your voice to make music with others feels great mentally, physically, and spiritually. And the sense of community Colleen creates at every rehearsal is a beautiful thing.”
Rehearsals are underway for the autumn and winter seasons’ repertoire (including the road shows), making this a great time to get involved. For opportunities along with performance dates and ticketing, go to www.coastlinearts.org.
