LOS ANGELES – Hers was a voice that both excited and annoyed fans throughout 10 seasons of Friends. It was the voice of 'Janice,' played by actress Maggie Wheeler. But these days, Wheeler's singing voice is bringing happiness to members of the Golden Bridge Community Choir.

Wheeler helped found the choir which has been performing for about 15 years.

“The mission behind this is to sort of create a space where people of every level and ability, or people who never sung, or are afraid of singing, or told they can’t sing,” Wheeler said. “You know everyone is welcome at the table.”

Before the pandemic, the choir would perform in local communities and festivals in Southern California, but because of Covid-19, Wheeler and the choir’s co-founder Emile Hassan Dyer, who originally is from West Africa, had to get innovative with virtual rehearsals and even virtual performances via Zoom. 

“For many of them it’s the only time during a week, during a seven-day period, where they can connect with other people” said Dyer.

“People feel a tremendous amount of healing. They feel a tremendous amount of community and connection and so we just keep going,” Wheeler added.

In this time of social change, the choir believes they represent the best of society with voices of all generations and races.

“What we perceive as race has nothing to do with what comes from the heart,” said Dyer. 

They say the choir truly doesn’t focused on the exterior. So much so, many don’t recognize their famous leader.

“I’ve had people in choir, sometimes for a full year, before all of a sudden they realize that I’m the same person who they know in their living room saying ‘Oh my God!'” explained Wheeler.

There’s no other way she would have it. Because the Golden Bridge Choir is not about celebrity or anything else other than community, connection and music.