After playing at the Lynnwood Civic Lights Dec. 4 and the Ken Baxter Senior Community Center in Marysville Dec. 9, Voices of the Village performed at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Arlington Dec. 11.

North Snohomish County residents still have two chances left to see the Smokey Point-based group before the New Year, since Voices of the Village will be putting in their monthly appearance at Zippy’s Java Lounge, Dec. 20 from 5-7 p.m., at 1801 Hewitt Ave. in Everett, before they do two shows at the Warm Beach Lights of Christmas, Dec. 27 at 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., at 20800 Marine Dr. in Stanwood.

“We’ve been working two years to get to Warm Beach,” said Vicki Adams, who handles booking and membership for Voices of the Village. “At Zippy’s we’ll be performing all original music, composed by Jon Dalgarn.”

Adams credited Dalgarn with being the first to organize the band, close to half a dozen years ago, and he remains the leader of its current roster of roughly 19 members.

Voices of the Village includes vocal and instrumental positions for adults with a wide range of disabilities, who play instruments as diverse as drums, keyboards, accordions, banjos, saxophones and even an Australian didgeridoo.

Dalgarn had already worked with adults with disabilities through Village Community Services’ residential and vocational assistance programs, but with Voices of the Village, he believes that he’s been able to address another area of their development.

“It really changes their lives,” Dalgarn said. “By being able to express themselves in this way, they learn a bit more about how to deal with the world and the world learns how to deal with them. This is the best gig in the world because there is so much unmitigated joy in their performances. We hand microphones to people who, in many ways, didn’t have a voice, so that they can sing and hear other people clapping for them. It’s about way more than music. They have a real passion for it.”

“Starting this band was Jon’s passion,” said Adams, who has two sons in Village Community Services and Voices of the Village. “As parents, we knew our kids liked music, but he was the one who had the vision for what it could be.”

Looking ahead to next year, Adams has high hopes for the band’s bookings, which she expects could include spots at the Evergreen State Fair, the Tulip Festival, and both the Arlington and Marysville summer concert series.

In the meantime, Village Community Services and Voices of the Village are always in need of more support, so Adams encouraged area event planners to consider booking the band.

“We’re always looking for more gigs,” Adams said. “Immaculate Conception and the Arlington United Church have been great hosts to us, but it would be wonderful to have our own building, especially since we know that we’ve interfered with their programs at times.”

For inquiries about Voices of the Village, contact Adams at 360-435-5874. Village Community Services is located in Suite 200 of 3210 Smokey Point Dr. in Arlington.