common pulse vocal ensemble

common pulse was founded in 2014 by 18 Chicago singers and director Lydia Lane Stout. now 30 singers, this professional vocal ensemble is a community of excellent musicians dedicated to collaboration and innovation, working alongside artists and activists to create more open and connected communities in our beloved city.

common pulse offers a unique crossroads of excellent musicianship and intentional community building. a singer driven ensemble, we engage in open and honest conversations with one another around our personal stories and relate it to the music that we sing.

common pulse is a program of the new nonprofit organization Chicago Artists for Action. we are a community of musicians and advocates creating innovative performance art and building collaborative partnerships to inspire action toward justice and nurture a more connected Chicago. Chicago Artists for Action is also home to Justice Choir Chicago, an aggressively welcoming music community that amplifies local voices building justice and dismantling systems of oppression through innovative partnership performance. together, common pulse and Justice Choir Chicago offer a wide range of singing and learning opportunities for Chicagoans throughout the year.