Sound Mosaic, Olympia's queer choir, won a $5,000 national grant to put free ukuleles into the hands of LGBTQ+ youth across Thurston County.

The program, called Rainbow Ukes for Youth, will give young people ages 12 to 21 their own ukulele, beginner-friendly workshops and a custom songbook over a three-day launch weekend.

But the original Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27, dates in downtown Olympia have been pushed back, and a new schedule has not been announced.

Sound Mosaic Board Vice President Renée Randazzo confirmed the change on Thursday, Sept. 24, in a comment on The JOLT News, which first reported on the program.

Randazzo directed registered participants to visit soundmosaic.org/rainbowukes for updates on the new date and location.

The grant came from GALA Choruses, a national association of LGBTQ+ choral groups. At GALA's Leadership Symposium in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 12–14, member choruses voted on which group would receive the one-time $5,000 award. Sound Mosaic beat out organizations with budgets as large as $1 million, according to The JOLT News.

Board President Natalie Sawyer and Randazzo pitched the idea at the symposium. The program's three-day structure gives each participant a free ukulele and art supplies to decorate it on the first day.

Day two covers chords, strumming and singing, with a custom songbook created by Sound Mosaic members.

The third day is an informal jam session with family and friends. No performance pressure. Youth can choose whether to participate.

"I'm not an extroverted person. I can put on a good mask, but I'm not that person that really seeks out friends," Sawyer told The JOLT News on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

"But now (thanks to the choir), I have 30 people that I know I can rely on, who have helped me feel safe, and that has made me a little more outgoing and comfortable in the place I live."

The choir has a no-audition policy, and members self-select their vocal part based on comfort.

Sound Mosaic also offers coaching for members whose voices are in transition so they can reach different notes and sing in a way that fits who they are.

The choir's second season begins Wednesday, Oct. 7, with open rehearsals every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Olympia Regional Learning Academy.

Youth interested in Rainbow Ukes for Youth can register at soundmosaic.org/rainbowukes.