We all have a song inside, sometimes it is a quiet melody other times it is a gorgeous cacophony of sound that defies confinement. And knowing when to sing it out is the key.  Each year brings new reasons to sing, and sing out loud, and this season Granite State Choral Society is on a mission to raise the roof!  If there are any words to best describe our upcoming 2014-2015 program, they would be Celebrate, Reflect and Renew.

First and foremost this will be a celebratory season for GSCS; we officially turn 40! It will be a yearlong Anniversary party from Sept to June and we’re doing it in style. We’ll start with a commemorative Messiah concert this December to remember our very first performance as a choral society almost 40 years ago to the date.  Secondly, and most importantly, we’ll be premiering new commissioned music. It has been nearly 100 years since the last commissioned pieces were created in honor of the Lilac City for the 1914 Rochester Fair.  We are beyond excited and honored to celebrate our four decades of music by showcasing our city’s rich history and culture in song. The new work, entitled ”Rochester”, composed by Nicholas White with original lyrics by choral members, will be sung  at an exclusive gala, River Stones, Rails and Renaissance: A Rochester Retrospective  on March 28, 2015 at the Governor’s Inn.  It will be a fantastic event with the composer in attendance to share in the first performance of his work. And  finally to close the season, In Concert with the Strafford Wind Symphony will be presented at the Rochester Opera House on May 15, 2015. The piece “Rochester” will be performed for the public along with other music selected to delight all ages.  In between, we’ll be out and about around town hosting fundraising events like our Second Annual Chili-Soup Tasting or Holiday Vendor Fair and even doing some community singing.  We hope to meet and share our joy of singing with you.

Of course with each passing season our Board reflects on what we done and where we are headed. It is always good to learn and grow. New faces have joined while some have left.  Our past season continued our commitment to presenting a wide musical offering: Dvorak’s Mass in D combined with religious and holiday music in the fall to a mix of period specific, contemporary and Broadway in the spring.  We’ve seen ourselves reconnecting with our city and our presence is being noticed in the Arts community. This year we won not only the Musician’s category of the 2^nd Annual Rochester Arts and Culture Awards but also the People’s Choice category! We have been and will continue to work on being Rochester’s signature community chorus.

GSCS is also focused on renewing itself behind the scenes and publicly. Like all healthy organizations, updating and refreshing processes make a group more adaptable and accessible, so we’re treating ourselves to a makeover.  You can find us on Facebook and Twitter to keep current on our concert and events.  Our website is also looking very sharp.  We are sporting a new logo and changing up our women’s concert attire. Birthdays and anniversaries are for “Putting on the Ritz” and Granite State Choral Society is stepping up and stepping out.

Having  been a part of GSCS for nearly 15 years,  it’s a joy to watch an audience and feel their energy as we sing,   It is an entire season of celebrations and with great excitement and honor as President this year, I’m hear to tell you that you’re our invited guests. Our wish is that this year’s events will provide you with as much listening enjoyment as it will for us to prepare and perform it. So come join the celebration and hit the high notes with us!  You will be glad you did.

Granite State Choral Society and I encourage you to sing out loud often: it makes you feel good and puts smiles on faces.

Elizabeth Tonkins-Agea

President, Granite State Choral Society