PORT TOWNSEND — The Community Chorus of Port Townsend & East Jefferson County will launch its fall rehearsal season Sunday in preparation for holiday concerts, this year set for Dec. 6 and 8.
All singers ages 16 and older are welcome to join the Community Chorus. No auditions are required. Men especially are encouraged to participate. The cost of a membership fee to the chorus is $35. Singers who wish to pre-register will find a form at ptchorus.org/join.html.
Registration for singers begins at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church fellowship hall, 1335 Blaine St. Participants should enter at the Harrison Street entrance.
Singing will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Rehearsals will continue on subsequent Sunday evenings.
Returning to direct the fall concerts are Jon Stafford and Sarah Moran. They have concocted a program of holiday music, seasonal songs and a few unexpected tunes. One of the most notable is “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass,” by Carol Barnett. For performance, Moran intends to recruit some bluegrass instrumentalists to help accompany singers.
The composer, Barnett, has been quoted as saying that she hopes listeners coming from one tradition — either classical or bluegrass — might discover, as she has, something new and wonderful in the combination of musical styles.
Stafford is carrying the bluegrass mood into the second half of the program, which he describes as a well-rounded assortment of Christmas carols, sacred music and seasonal secular songs. One of the pieces he is excited about is Shawn Kirchner’s “Brightest and Best.”
“It has a rocking fiddle part,” Stafford said. “It will pair well with Sarah’s ‘Bluegrass Mass.’ ”
Stafford said he’s looking forward to working with the Community Chorus again this season.
“I hope to see some new faces and to reconnect with old friends,” he said.
Chorus President Linda Atkins added that she and the board are happy to welcome back Stafford and Moran. She believes that the two directors complement each other’s styles.
“And they have great enthusiasm for the chorus, which very successfully spreads to the members,” Atkins said. “They’re both great teachers and help us to develop our skills.”
The chorus also welcomes new piano accompanist Liz Hopkins this season.
For information about the chorus, visit ptchorus.org/index.html, call 360-385-1402 or check out the chorus Facebook page.
