WESTFIELD-For 43 years, the Greater Westfield Choral Association has been enriching the lives of area residents with music aimed at all ages.
“Our mission is to bring meaningful music to our listeners, as well as our performers,” said Marc Winer, artistic director. “We pride ourselves in the wide variety of music and styles; there is something for everyone.”
Sunday afternoons are spent in rehearsals for the Greater Westfield Choral Association. The spring concert is slated March 8 at Second Congregational Church. (Greater Westfield Choral Association photo)
The group’s spring concert is slated March 8 at 3 p.m. at Second Congregational Church on Western Avenue. The event should run under 90 minutes with an intermission included. A reception will follow the concert and refreshments will be served.
“The other part of our mission is to be a teaching chorus, meaning that we don’t turn anyone away,” said Winer, adding “we teach not only the notes and rhythms, but also the love and enrichment of the music.”
Winer noted that the group also offers solo opportunities to singers in the group.
“The opportunities offer a chance for someone who may have not performed as a solo voice before, and we work with them,” he said.
Concerts are conducted at the church because the acoustics are “very friendly” for the medium sized choral group, and for the “wonderful organ” that is housed in the church, according to Winer.
“Concert goers will be delighted to hear one of Franz Schubert’s most accessible masses in the B-flat mass, which will be accompanied by organ,” said Winer. “They will also get a wonderful variety of music in the second half of the program with pieces by William Dawson (Soon ah Will Be Done), John Clements (Flower of Beauty), C. Hubert H. Parry (Dear Lord and Father of Mankind), and group composer and association president, Jay Ducharme (Lead and I Will Follow).”
Winer noted there will be multiple soloists throughout the program, many during the mass, and a soprano soloist in Benjamin Britten’s “Te Deum in C Major.”
Soprano performers will include Jane Berger, Sara Capalbo, Cathy Doner, Elizabeth Eastman, JoAnn Florek, Nancy Grimaldi, Katie Hereld, Katherine Houck, Barbara Johnson, Wendy Taylor-Jourdain, Mary Mackintosh, Maria Perez, Brittany Rash, Michelle Winer and Mara Winer.
Alto performers will include Katie Bailey, Meghan Beaumier, Liz Boucher, Grace Chan, Sherrie Denison, Denise Gendron, Lori LaPlante, Catherine Lilly, Doris Love, Julie Mack, Melissa Nazzaro, Jan Parks, Darillyn Patterson, Noah Perkins, Audry Pierce, and Doreen Stanuch.
Also, tenor performers are Alan Greggs, Patrick Lally, Bill Souder, Patti Souder, Dori Stewart-St. Onge, and Michael Winer, and bass performers are Richard Brown, Jay Ducharme, Joseph Geehern, Donald Jourdain, Paul Seery and Jack Tozzi.
Persons assisting Winer with the production include members of the board of directors. Directors include Jay Ducharme, president; Nancy Grimaldi, treasurer; Doris Love, secretary; Mary Mackintosh, Joseph Geehern, Barbara Johnson, and accompanist Karen Ducharme.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors.
“This is our 43rd year in existence and we have performed in Westfield every year since inception,” said Winer. “The group was created by Floyd Corson, so that area singers could have a place to sing without the fear of auditioning for a large symphony chorus.”
The group was directed next by Allan Taylor, then Winer stepped in 13 years ago.
For more information, visit westfieldchoral.org.
