THE GREATER MILFORD COMMUNITY CHORUS
TAKES A MUSICAL TOUR

The Greater Milford Community Chorus presented their Spring Concert, "All Aboard: a Musical Tour," May 1-3 at the Memorial Hall Cultural Center, 30 School Street, in Milford, Massachusetts.

Led by Director Donald Thatcher and accompanied by pianist Mary Jo Rett, the tour began with an exciting ride on the Chattanooga Choo Choo, then moved to France for Il Est Bel Et Bon.  Mild mannered and respectable Brenda Almeida, with an extensive background in British choruses and musical theater, took the solo on Stephen Sondheim's Send in The Clowns. Lisa Mather sang The Dreame.  Jeff Lovell took us to a Russia Picnic. The first set ended with a stately, melodic River Song.

 
Part II - Joe Silvia had both the choir and the audience in hysterics when he came out as an authentic, truly drunken sailor and fitted Mr. Thatcher with a sailor hat and pipe for What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor?

 

The chorus returned with a warm, sensitive a capella version of the traditional, timeless piece Shenandoah. Deanna Kowalczyk, who has been with the chorus for 15 years, played piano and sang as she took us on a detour to South America with Boy From Ipanema. Jeff Lovell, a powerful tenor, was featured on Younger Than Springtime, from South Pacific by Richard Rodgers.  With Fa Una Canzona, we took a delightful trip to Italy. 

Everything sparked! In the Finale, The Chorus revelled in pure sound and enjoyment with an eloquent Broadway medley of show tunes by Roger Hammerstein. 

The audience, some of whom came from other groups in the NACCA, ie, knowledgeable vocalists, gave this group a standing ovation with rousing applause for taking us on a first-class musical tour!

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The nearly 30-member Greater Milford Community Chorus (GMCC)  includes singers from many area towns, including Bellingham, Franklin, Mendon, Milford, Upton, Whitinsville, and Worcester.

Soprano: Gail Brown, Tyrene Brundrett, Deb DeFilippo, Kris Heumann, Sonha Leibrandt, Lisa Mather, Kathy Pontzer, Linnea Silvia, Beth Stochaj, Jessica Valis.
Alto: Brenda Almeida, Sarah Freeman, Mingming He, Deanna Kowalczyk, Carolyn Letvin, Nora McRae.
Tenor: Jeff Lovell, Ann Sartain, William Warner.
Bass: Joshua Freehan, Michael Smith, Wayne Stochaj

In addition to their spring concert, the GMCC is also preparing to participate in the Community Chorus Festival at the Hanover Theater in Worcester. This performance, presented by NEACCA, will be one night only, Saturday, June 20, at 7 p.m. This first-of-its-kind event will feature five area choruses, more than 200 voices, representing more than 30 towns and cities in central Massachusetts. Tickets will be available at the GMCC spring concert, or through the Hanover Theater Box Office at 781-504-7300, or e-mail Chorus_GMCC@yahoo.com. Prices are $15.00 for general admission, $22.00 for premium seats; and $35.00 for wine and cheese tasting plus premium seats.

The GMCC is supported in part by the Milford Community Use Program, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the Milford Cultural Council.          

By Marce, Updated May 28, 2009