With support from the California Arts Council, High Desert Test Sites (HDTS) will partner with local artist Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs to present High Desert Choir, a free, no-audition community chorus. The project addresses urgent regional needs—social isolation, limited access to mental health support, and civic disconnection—through collaborative song-writing, singing, and public performance.
Rooted in the Morongo Basin, where residents often experience geographic and social isolation, Choir creates a consistent, inclusive space for creative expression and reconnection. Weekly workshops, community-based performances, and the creation of a 12-song album will engage approximately 200 participants and reach over 1,200 audience members.
CAC funds will support artist fees, workshop facilitation, performance production, and album creation. By centering collective voices, High Desert Choir strengthens community cohesion, supports mental well-being, and expands much-needed local opportunities for civic and artistic participation.