A 2014 Janaka Foundation Grant was given to provide the Ananda Music Ministry with website development and for a local tour of the Ananda Joy Singers. The music ministry focuses on the over 400 compositions given to us during Swami Kriyananda’s lifetime. It provides music for all Ananda events, training for singers and choir rehersals, and tours to offer the music of Ananda to broader audiences. Swami Kriyananda once said, “If you want to get to know me, listen to my music.” The Ananda Music Ministry provides many opportunities to listen to and to sing this music, through original arrangements as well as through creative applications. See more about Ananda Music at their website. Also see their new product, “Conscious Commuting” at the Crystal Clarity Publishers website.

Update! December 2014, from the Ananda Music Ministry: Our outreach efforts have seen significant benefits from the Janaka grant, despite having spent only a small part of it so far. It has had a positive effect on our overall magnetism, we have attracted some additional funding, and have actually been earning some money through our performances which has added to our bank account.

After receiving the Janaka Grant in August 2014, the Joy Singers (4-person group) had a half-day retreat in October to clarify and focus our energies as a group, and to attune more deeply to the music we are presenting. The following are performances that happened after that retreat:

  • On Sunday, November 16, the Joy Singers sang for the Center for Spiritual Living – Tahoe Truckee Sunday service. It was an exceptionally successful day for us: a number of people bought our CD; we received some deeply moving testimonials (read more in this recent blog post: http://www.thejoysingers.com/2014/12/the-moments-we-live-for/); and received two referrals to a large church in the East Bay.
  • The the Joy Singers concert at Rossmoor Senior Community in Walnut Creek on Saturday, November 22, was a transformative experience for both singers and audience. Half the audience were completely new to The Joy Singers and to the music of Ananda, but everyone, without exception, loved the program and urged us to return as soon as possible (which we’ll probably do in mid-March).
  • 2015 is already shaping up to be a big year for The Joy Singers, with several dates already booked and many more in the works.