Community Invited to Sing Along with Putnam Chorale
After getting rained and blacked out by Hurricane Irene last August, the Putnam Chorale is inviting one and all in the community to attend and participate in their annual open house and “Summer Sing Along” to be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26 at the First United Methodist Church located at 83 Main Street in Brewster.
Chorale Director Douglas Anderson will lead the sing along through performances of Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Schubert’s “Mass in G.” Community members attending are invited to take a solo, sing along with the rest of the chorale and to simply enjoy the music as they follow along with a score that will be provided to all.
While most community chorale’s are accompanied by a piano, Putnam Chorale’s Board of Directors President Beth Maley said the orchestra at the sing along, and the group’s other performances, set the Putnam Chorale apart.
“It makes us unique,” Maley said. “People like to sing with an orchestra and they like hearing an orchestra.”
Having the seasoned musicians at the concerts, was made possible by a very generous, annual donation by a donor who has chosen to remain anonymous, Maley said.
The entry fee for the sing along is $10 per person and helps the all-volunteer chorale put on performances throughout the year.
The mission of the chorale is provide the community with the experience of enjoying well-performed classical and popular choral music. In addition, the chorale provides an opportunity for area residents to learn the techniques of choral singing and attain the skills and discipline of concert performance.
Maley said she joined the chorale more than 10 years ago.
“We are always looking for new members,” Maley said. “People shouldn’t be afraid to try it out.”
And by, “try it out,” Maley meant so that interested residents might see if the chorale is to their liking, as there are no auditions required to join the group.
Maley also noted that it is not necessary to read sheet music in order to participate and that audio recordings of the different parts – alto, soprano, tenor and bass – are available to the singers.
The group meets on Monday nights each week, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Carmel High School to rehearse new selections.
Following the day of the summer sing along, the chorale will begin to perfect their performance of Brahms “Requiem,” for a concert that is scheduled the first week of December, and they hope more community members will join them to expand the ranks of the chorale.
In addition to their concerts, the Putnam Chorale Ensemble does outreach throughout the year, bringing music to nursing homes, libraries and community events.
Community members who are interested in joining the chorale and would like more information may visit its website at www.putnamchorale.org, or by calling 845-279-7265.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
