Above: The Southborough Senior Songsters had fun belting out 50’s tunes at a concert for the Senior Center. (Photo submitted)
I saw a Northborough Community Chorus’ announcement on Southborough Cable Access. This made me think, “Does Southborough have its own community chorus?”
For senior citizens, we have:
Southborough Senior Songsters
This singing group of about 30 members is affiliated with the Southborough Senior Center. Under the direction of Jim Duncan, they meet weekly at the Senior Center on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM.
The Senior Songsters put on 2-3 shows each year at the Senior Center and also perform at nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the area. Performances feature the full chorus as well as solos, duets and small group numbers.
There are no auditions to join the chorus and the only requisites are to be over 60 and enjoy singing. Rehearsals will begin again in the fall on September 17.
But what if you’re younger than 60 and love to sing?
For the young set, the St. Mark Episcopal Church has a Junior Choir. And obviously some of the schools have singing programs.
But for non-senior adults, I couldn’t find any in-town options. So I thought I’d share information on choral groups around the area that welcome adult members from the Southborough community.
Westborough Community Chorus
My family has enjoyed going to their annual Christmas and Spring concerts for years. Full disclosure, that’s because my father is a performing member (and former president) who always buys us tickets.
He always says that it’s a wonderful way to have fun with people who share a love for singing.
Their new season starts up Wednesday, September 4th at 7:00 pm with a reception followed by their first rehearsal at 7:30 pm. (Following rehearsals generally take place on Monday evenings.)
You can find more information at westborochorus.com.
The Northborough Area Community Chorus
Their website shares that NACC “was formed in the spring of 1972 and has grown from a few hearty people of Adult Education Classes at Algonquin Regional High School, who enjoyed singing, to a spirited blend of 60 SATB voices. “
NACC is holding open rehearsals for the 1st month of this season to welcome new members. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, September 10 at 7:30 pm in the choral room of Algonquin Reg. High School. They will continue weekly on Tuesday nights until their December concert. For more information, call 774-249-2497 or visit www.nacc.net
Assabet Valley Mastersingers
Auditions are required to join AVM, also based out of Northborough.
AVM is “a regional chorus representing over twenty towns in the Metro-West region. The membership of about 75 vocalists is diverse, with some who are professionally trained while others have only school or church choir experience. The age of the members range from 20 to 80+ but the Student Apprentice Vocalist program also encourages high school students to rehearse and perform with AVM.”
Upcoming audition opportunities are at open rehearsals on Mondays August 26 and September 9 from 7:30 – 9:45 pm at the Church of the Nativity, 45 Howard St. Northborough, MA 01532.
Metrowest Community Chorus
This women’s singing group, based out of Marlborough, is seeking new members. It’s described as a women’s a cappella chorus in the Boston Metrowest area with a repertoire includes Irish, patriotic, country and jazz tunes sung in barbershop style four-part harmony.
Their rehearsals are on Wednesday nights at the First Church of Marlborough, 37 High Street, Marlborough, MA. An upcoming rehearsal is scheduled for September 4th.
For more information, or to sign up, you can visit their meetup page, http://www.meetup.com/MetroWest-Harmony-Chorus-Marlborough-MA/
These are the only groups that I could find in Southborough or immediately surrounding towns. If you know of others you’d like to share, feel free to post a comment.
