The Playa Choir is a rowdy, non-dogmatic secular Choir, that has been a presence at Burning Man (That Thing In The Desert) since 2003. Black Rock City is a mecca for art of all kinds, and music plays a huge part in the culture. Embodying the Burning Man Principals of Participation, Radical Inclusion, Gifting, Self Expression, Communal Effort and Immediacy, the Playa Choir is an unforgettable experience for both the audience and Choristers alike.

The Playa Choir began many years ago as a small offshoot of members from the Jazz Cafe. Kathleen Hollingsworth, aka Madi, creates and directs the choir, each year from scratch.

Growing each year, the choir attracts 70-80 regular Burners from around the world, to join, rehearse, and create vocal music together – culminating in powerful performances at the end of the burn. The goal is to send folks back to the default, with the lessons learned from the playa resonating in in their hearts. In its essence, Playa Choir provides that connection to the “Something Other” that is often overlooked at Burning Man.

The Playa Choir has famously and movingly performed a wide variety of sacred and secular choral arrangements with featured soloists – accompanied by a talented band – and attracts crowds of 200 to 300 people for the now legendary Sunrise performance at the Temple, and again later that Sunday morning for their extended service with full Band and Sound System in their hard-to-miss Dome.

The Playa Choir is notable for a wide range of colorful characters in equally colorful garb. But don’t let appearances deceive you – many are experienced and talented musicians in their own right, who rehearse hard and bond together in an incredibly short period of time. Over the years, we’ve received feedback from hundreds of Burners that hearing and seeing the Choir perform at the end of an already amazing week, is the highlight of their overall experience!

We are open to all Burners, regardless of experience, and are completely non-denominational and non-religious, but entirely spiritual, rewarding and fulfilling. Our performances are the not-to-be-missed events of the entire Burn!

A “Shortish” History of the Choir Timeline

2003 to 2013 – Madi creates and leads her beloved Choir on a 10-year Nomadic journey. Each year the Choir keeps growing, but is dependent on other camps for performance space. A 57-year old hippie virgin named Miss Ayme joined in 2013, and began to dream.

2014 – Placed as an official Theme Camp for the first time with help from “Tofu” Pete from Playatel, but still under his umbrella. The Great Storage Container Fiasco ensues; Sunday performance held at the Black Rock Cantina instead. This was the first year we incorporated an aerialist into our performance and “Defying Gravity” took on a whole new level!

2015 – Playa Choir goes independent, and is placed to anchor the 6:00 Public Plaza; bought the 44’ Dome from Black Rock Cantina and built it ourselves; we finally had our own permanent home!

2016 – Formed S.A.T.B. Village with Acapplaya. Again anchored 6:00 Public Plaza; Massive Communal Shade Structure upgrades, and a lot of growing pains – we had to make two trips to get all our stuff to the Playa. Never again!

2017 – We solved our storage/transportation needs by buying The Cool Bus. Bought a new Sound System, and we get placed in a new location on Rod’s Road; Everything clicks like clockwork; BMIR Radio broadcasts Sunday Service; a perfect Burn.

2018 – Placed again at RRR and D Street; Huge Galley complex; Videography Team; New Dome Lights (epic fail!); Amazing collaborative performance with The Sanctuary Art Car for our Sunrise Temple Service; We are again a well-oiled machine that purred perfectly. The aerialist this year, performed on chains for a dramatic and moving performance. BMIR again broadcast our Sunday service.

2019 – Resided this year at 6:15 and G. We started serving coffee in the morning at the Temple of Harmonics and hosted guest speakers, instructors, receptions and live performances in the Dome. BMIR again made the Playa Choir Sunday Service a part of Exodus.

2020 – In March of 2020, in response to the Global lockdown, we began meeting on Sundays for “Renegade Gospel”. This was the start of a practice that would deepen the relationships of our members who usually only see one another for an intense week on Playa every year. For many of us, it was how we survived the pandemic. When Burning Man was cancelled, the choir conducted a Virtual Service Via Zoom on what would have been Burn Sunday with our greatest wish being a reunion in 2021. A Solstice service was also presented in December.

2021 – With the cancellation of Burning Man for a second year, Playa Choir needed to take an inventory and see to the infrastructure of our camp. A small group of dedicated Choir members met at Iveson Ranch to check on the bus and reunite. It was the first time many of us had been anywhere in public since the onset of the pandemic and reuniting in the vast empty of the Playa was profoundly moving.

We had a small but enthusiastic presence at the Renegade Burn- It was an awesome experience akin to what early Burns must have been like. But we missed the porta potties! Later in the week- we converged at Villa Agave and camped with Accaplaya. We spent a long weekend lounging by the River and making music. We broadcasted our Virtual Service on what would have been Burn Sunday.

2022 – The Playa Choir returned to the Playa with a gusto. It was an amazing homecoming with many long awaited hugs. Many new faces joined the Build, Strike and Galley Crew and the Dome went up without a hitch for the first time in 2 years. We were again placed in our favorite location on Rod’s Road and the camp were filled to the brim with new and returning campers. The new band came together and we rocked Sunday morning in our usual Playa Choir style. Playa Choir was also featured in the Virtual Burn.

2023 promised to be an amazing year! Again placed on Rod’s Road, Playa Choir camp was populated with a dynamic mix of new and returning campers. The band returned with a new bass player. A Collaboration with the Black Rock Philharmonic posed an exciting new challenge and manifested as an EPIC performance of Finlandia to a crowd of thousands! The week was fine until the rain came! And then everything came to a sudden halt. Playa Choir Camp made the best of a difficult situation and with all hands on deck, we were able to make sure everyone was safe and taken care of. Being a music camp, of course there was music, singing and hysterical compositions about the S&[# show. Sunday morning dawned drippy and gloomy. The Sunrise Service was cancelled, but the 11 0’clock service happened despite all odds. Out of the muddy streets, folks came clomping to see the show. Our musicians played covered in plastic bags and when the rain began in the middle of the service, folks were dancing in the street. Animalia was a year to remember!

2024 was a fabulous come back from the Mud Fest of ’23! The weather was spectacular. We had an amazing collaboration with the Luna Art Car and again with the Black Rock Philharmonic. Placed this year in the 6 o’clock Plaza, we again had a tip top camp filled with creativity and inspiration. Our Frontage had a makeover with new illuminated Letters as well as some neon Marquees. Our amazing band continued to rock out- despite the ongoing search for a bass player. Oh Fortuna with the BRP was a monumental performance to a crowd of thousands. The choir topped out at 85 performers this year- our biggest yet. As usual, the Sunday Service as standing room only and the ocean of bikes out front caught the attention of folks in exodus.

2025 is looking good so far. Placed at 6:15 and C- we are centrally located and poised for positivity! We will again be collaborating with the Black Rock Philharmonic. Playa Choir continues to develop our brand as “The Place you go to Sing” and invite other music groups, singers or artists to take advantage of our community space.

Welcome Home!

Experience the Playa Choir

The Temple Of Harmonics

Originally designed and created for 2019 Burning Man: METAMORPHOSES. Gentle sounds and fresh-brewed coffee are a great way to get your day in Black Rock City started.

Rehearsals

We rehearse every day during Burn Week, Tuesday – Saturday at 10:30am in our Dome. All are Welcome. Come and join the choir or grab a cushion and enjoy the show. We practice radical inclusion, and anyone can join the choir, no auditions necessary. Sheet music is available at the Rehearsals, though music is available online over the summer, and Choir members who are planning on singing with the Choir practice their parts in advance and come prepared. This is a huge advantage when Playa Brain sets in. But every year, we have many Choir members who find us during their burn and decide to join!

We love having an audience during rehearsals! There are many cushions, chairs and nice carpeted places to just lay down, rest and listen. Feel free to stop by and come in for the whole time or just a song or two!

Performances

We have two performances on Burn Sunday, at the end of the Week. Both feature the same music, but the Temple Service is abbreviated – but many believe in their hearts this is the more powerful.

Sunrise Service at the Temple

At the crack of dawn, the Choir gathers on the Eastern side of the Temple and greets the new day with song. For many Burners, this is the first day of the New Year. The service has been described as “A sacred ritual of awakening”. Many burners are gathered at the temple, often worn out and rugged from an emotional week, and the crescendo of voices in unison as the sun peeks over the horizon can be overwhelming and cathartic.

Main Dome Performance

At 11:00am on Sunday morning, we are prepared to bring the house down with our Standing-Room-Only Dome Performance. Be sure to get there early if you want a seat out of the sun! Accompanied by our very own, tastefully talented Band, we sing our hearts out and wrap-up what has been an amazing week for all!

This service is simultaneously broadcast on BMIR, and reaches Burners in their cars during Sunday Exodus (those who don’t stay for the Temple Burn) and to friends and family around the world. This service is a special combination of rowdy music, amazing vocals, dancers, aerialists, speakers and touches of inspiration from Burners of all colors, shapes, genders, orientations, ages and spiritual inclinations! You really don’t want to miss it.