Above: The Southborough Senior Songsters had fun belting out 50’s tunes at a concert for the Senior Center. (Photo submitted)
Last year, I looked into choices for Southborough adults who want to belt out some tunes (outside of the shower). September is the month when most community choruses regroup and begin to rehearse. So, here’s an updated look.
For senior citizens, we have:
Southborough Senior Songsters (no auditions)
This singing group of about 30 members is affiliated with the Southborough Senior Center. 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 next Tuesday, September 9.
But what if you’re under 60?
For non-senior adults, I can’t find any in-town options. So, here are some regional choral groups that welcome adult members from the Southborough community.
The Northborough Area Community Chorus (no auditions)
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 will begin weekly rehearsals for its Christmas Concert next Tuesday, September 9 at at 7:30 pm in the choral room of Algonquin Regional High School. New members are welcome.
The chorus, under the direction of founder Anthony Volpe from Westborough with piano accompanist David Rose from Shrewsbury, represents 16 local communities. The chorus is supported in part with grants from the Northborough, Westborough, Marlborough, Shrewsbury and Southborough Cultural Councils.
For more information, call 774-249-2497 or visit www.nacc.net
Westborough Community Chorus (no auditions)
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. (No auditions to join this group.)
They currently need currently need altos, basses, tenors and sopranos – and some non-singing volunteers to help with staging, costume, etc.
They begin rehearsals for their holiday show, tonight, Wednesday, September 3 at 7:00 pm at the Westborough Senior Center, 4 Rogers Road.
After that, rehearsals are generally Monday evenings from 7:30-9:00 pm at the Westborough Senior Center.
You can find more information at westborochorus.com.
Assabet Valley Mastersingers (auditions required)
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.”
Interested singers are invited to attend an open rehearsal. I missed sharing two open rehearsal dates. The final chance for this season is next Monday, September 8, 7:30 pm at Church of the Nativity, 45 Howard St., Northborough, MA. (Details on what is entailed can be found here.) [Note: the audition page doesn’t list 9/8 for open rehearsals, but their home page does.]
For more information on AVM, visit www.avmsingers.org.
If you know of other singing groups you’d like to share, feel free to post a comment.
