(2008-present)
Singing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I've been singing with church choirs, community choruses, oratorio societies and symphony choruses all my life. In high school I was the Girls Chorus Representative to the newly formed Choral Council. I went on the next year to become Vice President, and in my senior year took on the role of President. We had a great choir that participated in the All-State competition and performed at Jorgensen Auditorium. The choir also performed around the New London area as well as presenting two school concerts. Many of the choristers, myself included, wrote our senior play, An American Musical, which included popular show tunes of that time including selections from Pippin, Kiss Me Kate, and Oklahoma.
My association with the ECSC started in 1975. I was pregnant with my daughter who would be born only 4 days after our concert the following March. Joan Cook prepared the Chorus to perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 under the direction of Victor Norman. Through the years I joined the ECSC whenever possible. A favorite memory is singing at Goodspeed Opera House under the baton of George Baziotopoulos. It was a Christmas concert and the venue was absolutely gorgeous!
I went back to college in the late 90's and spent a semester in France where I joined a community chorus. While I do speak French it was a little disconcerting to be in a room full of native French speakers! Nevertheless, they were very patient with me as I practiced my French, and I enjoyed helping them with their English. Of course, when the Conductor raised his baton for us to sing together we were all struggling with the German! I distinctly remember my ears physically relaxing when we all sang in one, multicultural voice. Great memories.
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Peter McCoppin was the next stop in my singing career. My role with the CSO was that of Chorus Manager. There were five choruses – five very active choruses – with over 265 singers in all. My favorite group among them was 'Round Midnight, an all male ensemble of some of Charlotte's finest voices. They crooned their way into the audience's heart… and mine! The CSO choruses performed all throughout the Charlotte area, and in 1999 the Chamber Choir of which I was a part auditioned for and was selected to sing at Charleston, South Carolina's prestigious Piccolo Spoleto Festival. We were thrilled! Again, great memories.
There's no doubt that I have always enjoyed getting involved when I join a chorus. Each experience has been tremendously rewarding, but none so much as that with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus. When I rejoined in 2007 I was impressed by the kid who was directing – I say kid because Mark is four months younger than my daughter! It was interesting to think that the Choral Director wasn't even born when I first sang with the group in 1975, but there are others who can say the same. The longevity of the ECSC is a testament to a love for music from both sides of the stage – performers and audience. After my first year I found there was an opening for the role of President. I thought "Why not?" and threw my hat into the ring for consideration. I was elected in the summer of 2008 and have been working diligently in that role ever since. It is my hope that the ECSC will continue to grow in a way that helps keep choral music alive and well in our community…. forever!
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