The EMA Singers

A Joy-Centric Vocal Group

The EMA Singers is a joy-centric group with heart. We experience joy in our pursuit of high-level singing, collaboration, and camaraderie with one another, and we spread joy to our audiences with a wide variety of music and our fun-loving spirits and performance style.

Our History

The EMA Singers is sponsored by Expressions Music Academy and has existed since 2019. We are a semi-professional vocal group made up of faculty and staff from Expressions Music Academy as well as highly-qualified, auditioned members from around the Metro Detroit area. We typically have about 30-40 vocalists each season and enjoy collaborating with one another to select a wide variety of music. We perform live in multiple concerts around the Metro Detroit area every spring.

Our Directors

Dr. Joe Bentley, Artistic Director

Dr. Joe Bentley is a retired professor of music from what is now Rochester Christian University, where he conducted the A Cappella Chorus for 34 years. He continues to direct The Choral Union of RCU, and is active as conductor of the Birmingham Musicale Choral Ensemble, and music director at the Congregational Church of Birmingham. He teaches voice and conducting to private students, and enjoys consulting with other choral and vocal organizations. He holds degrees from Harding University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Michigan State University. He is married to Dr. Vikki Bentley, who is the Dean of the School of Teacher Education at RCU. They enjoy being in the lives of their three children and four grandchildren.

Ben Henri, Assistant Director

Ben Henri is a conductor, singer, vocal percussionist, and inveterate trivia nerd who loves being the Assistant Director of the EMA Singers.  For 17 years, Ben was a high school choir director, 15 of which he spent at Grosse Pointe North High school where his students and ensembles regularly received top scores at District and State level competitions.  He has also music directed two a cappella groups in his past, Two Weeks Notice and the University of Michigan DJ's.  Ben received his undergraduate degree in Music Education at Michigan where he performed in several ensembles, including the Michigan Marching Band Drumline.  Ben also holds an MM in conducting from Michigan State University.  In 2020, Ben won the Jeopardy! Teacher Tournament (no, seriously - you can Google him), filming his episodes three weeks before COVID lockdowns.  He currently lives with his incredible fiancée and their four fur babies.

What We Sing

We are known for the wide variety of songs we sing from pop to traditional to broadway to folk to contemporary choral. To see an example of our set lists from previous years, click HERE.

Enjoy our 2022 holiday recording!

Details & Logistics

Rehearsal Schedule & Location

Rehearsals take place on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays of the month from 10am-12:30pm at Harmony Hall in Novi, MI. Other events such as the retreat, the listening party and the holiday party also take place at Harmony Hall in Novi. Concerts take place around the Metro Detroit area.

Our season runs from September through May.

Harmony Hall: 43340 West 10 Mile Rd, Novi, MI 48375

Important Dates for the 2025-2026 Season

  • Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 10am-12:30pm - listening party at Harmony Hall, Novi

  • Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 10am-12:30pm - first rehearsal of the season

  • Sunday, September 14, 2025, 1-8pm - retreat day at Harmony Hall, Novi

  • Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 10am-12:30pm - holiday song recording day (location TBA)

  • Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 10am-12:30pm - EMA Singers holiday party at Harmony Hall, Novi

  • Tuesday, December 30, 2025 - NO REHEARSAL (break for the holidays)

  • Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 10am-12:30pm - extra rehearsal

  • Saturday, May 30, 2026, 2-7pm - combined concert with Madrigal Chorale at The Berman in West Bloomfield

  • Sunday, June 7, 2026, 3-7pm - final concert for family & friends (location TBA)

*All rehearsals take place at Harmony Hall, Novi, MI and generally occur on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays of the month

**Attendance at all events and concerts is mandatory, and up to two unexcused and one emergency absence is allowed for rehearsals.

Home Practice & Memorization

All members are expected to practice consistently at home (we will provide practice tracks) and memorize certain songs as directed. Our rehearsals are a time for polishing music and enjoying our time together, not for teaching parts.

Compensation

All members are compensated $25 per rehearsal and $25 per performance. In order to receive compensation for each rehearsal, members must attend the rehearsal/performance and arrive within 10 minutes of the start time. In order to be invited back to the group in the subsequent year, in addition to attending rehearsals consistently, members are also required to practice their assigned parts at home in preparation for rehearsals. Sheet music and practice tracks for each individual part are provided.

*Concert attire (t-shirt) as well as all sheet music, binder, practice tracks, and ChoirMate app fees are covered for all members.

Eligibility

Any singers who have had prior experience in a choral or vocal group and possess the ability to interact with and read standard sheet music are welcome to audition!

Check out a few of our live performances from 2024:

Check out our Facebook & Instagram pages here:

Schedule an Audition

Audition instructions

  • You will be asked to prepare a solo of your choosing. Plan to sing a cappella or with a track.

  • Plan to do some vocalizing with the director to determine placement and ear training.

  • Plan to complete a short sight-reading assessment.

  • The audition will include a short interview including a brief summary of your experiences as a vocalist. Please feel free to bring any questions about the group!

We very much appreciate your time and look forward to meeting you!