If you’ve ever sung in a chorus and experienced the magic of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, the Cinnabar Chamber Singers invites you to join them for their spring semester.

“Many people sing in high school and then never sing again. But there is nothing like being a part of a group of people making beautiful music,” said Cinnabar Theater executive director Elly Lichenstein, who is also a member of the chorus.

Lichenstein encourages anyone “who can carry a tune” to consider joining the community-based chorus that currently has about 18 members, including several couples who enjoy the opportunity to sing together.

“New people shouldn’t be shy; this is a very welcoming group of interesting people who really enjoy each other’s company,” said Lichenstein. “Some know a lot about music and some very little. The music ranges from quite easy to somewhat challenging.” An audition is required but strictly for placement.

The Cinnabar Chamber Singers were started about 10 years ago by Nina Shuman, who conducted the group until her passing in December 2010 from cancer. Her successor, Michael Shahani was a longtime friend of Shuman, first meeting her in 1982 when he came to the Bay Area and answered an ad in the San Francisco Chronicle for the Opera Variety Theater. They performed together, “she played the piano and I sang,” Shahani said.

Shuman moved to Petaluma where she was musical director for Cinnabar Theater and Shahani moved on to teaching, but the two stayed in touch over the years. In the spring of 2010, Shuman asked Shahani if he would assist her with a production of the opera, “Emmeline” at Cinnabar Theater.

“I conducted the rehearsals and she rose to the occasion and did all the performances,” said Shahani. “The results were truly amazing. No one involved in it will ever forget.”