Maria Bailey

Mile High Threshold Singers
Denver, Colorado

I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, and now live in Colorado, in the foothills just outside Denver. I came to Threshold Choir about four years ago after hearing a friend sing with the Boulder chapter. I remember listening with tears in my eyes and immediately falling in love with what I was hearing and feeling.

At the time, I had already been volunteering in hospice. The journey toward elderhood and end of life has been close to my heart for as long as I can remember, even as a little girl. So adding singing to the companion work I was already doing in hospice felt like a no-brainer. There was something very natural about bringing those two forms of presence together.

I’ve been part of the Denver chapter for about three years. We share responsibilities and leadership in our chapter, and over that time I’ve helped organize and lead meetings and retreats, while also participating in our regular offerings to sing out, usually twice a month. What I love about TC is that the singing is only part of it. There is also the community and the practice of listening, of being present, and of offering something without needing anything in return.

As I begin serving on the TC board, I’m looking forward to seeing the organization from a wider perspective and contributing to how we nurture and grow the community while staying connected to what makes Threshold Choir so meaningful. I’m especially interested in how we create spaces where people can participate, contribute their gifts, learn from one another, and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

Service and contemplative practice show up in other parts of my life as well. I volunteer at the Boulder County Jail, where I offer meditation, and through BetterUp Coaching, I volunteer to lead a monthly group for coaches centered on inquiry and shared learning. Professionally, I work as a leadership coach and facilitator, and I’m also an abstract artist.

My husband and I are proud empty nesters. We love spending time in nature, cooking, traveling, and playing Euro-style board games — the kind that can happily take over the dining room table for an evening!

Thank you for having me, and I look forward to serving you and our cause with everything I’ve got!