01344nas a2200121   4500008004100000245010100041210006900142300001400211490000700225520092900232100001501161856004601176       2022                        eng d00a“It just fills you up”: The culture of monthly community singing events in one American city0 aIt just fills you up The culture of monthly community singing ev  a475–4900 v443 aThis article conveys data collected in an ethnographic case study exploring monthly participatory community singing events in one city in the American Midwest. I analyze these data through the lens of a “traditional” choral conductor who, prior to undertaking this investigation, had little knowledge about participatory singing traditions; I also utilize scholarship about participatory versus presentational music activities as defined by Turino. Themes that arose during data analysis include: the context of folk music culture of Middletown, the inclusivity of community singing events, the role of the song-leader in facilitating these events, and “wounding stories” from participants who were discouraged by music educators. Perhaps in reflecting on the dichotomy between performative and participatory singing events, the choral community may begin to unlearn strictures that make some singers feel unwelcome.1 aPalkki, J.  uhttps://www.navarchivo.com/fr/node/162696