It’s 2015 and the music continues!

All New Year beginnings present opportunities to reflect on past accomplishments and map out new goals.  In the Fall GSCS’s watchwords were Celebrate, Reflect and Renew. They still hold true as we continue our 40^th Anniversary Season Party this semester session.

The celebration officially started as we hosted the Rochester Chamber of Commerce November Business After-Hours at The Governor’s Inn. In hosting over 60 local business and members GSCS was able to present our history with the city as well as our upcoming plans and goals. We also held two highly successful fundraising events: October’s 2^nd Annual Chili/Soup Tasting and November’s well-attended Craft Fair. We made each outing a party leading up to our commemorative presentation of Handel’s Messiah in December. The four soloists, members Ethan Pierce, Carroll Stevens Jr., Terry Minihan and guest vocalist Sarah Khan made our formal orchestrated presentation simply outstanding. Our audiences were treated to two exceptional performances. We celebrated two members, Don Brown and Patricia Dunlap for their 40 year membership and honored our founding director, Sylvia Dowst at the second performance as well.

And this is only the beginning. On March 28 we premiere our commissioned piece, Rochester, created by Grammy nominated composer Nicholas White. This piece will bring to life, in song, the city’s milestones using original lyrics and music that will take the listener on a journey through time from its founding to present day. Be sure to reserve your tickets soon, s seating is limited. And then on May 15, GSCS will collaborate with the Strafford Wind Symphony in a joint concert at the historic Rochester Opera House. It has been well over a decade since our last performance both at this venue and with SWS, so it romises to be an amazing evening that will showcase over 65 years of musical performing experience sure to delight all ages.

We continue to renew and reflect on ourselves as a choral group dedicated to bring quality choral performances. We’ve gained many new followers on our social media pages, new members and new contacts. A recently awarded grant by Citizens Bank and the Waldo & Alice Ayer Trust will help us purchase a much needed covered travel trailer for our risers. Additionally we continue to strive to be more visible in the community. Recent community singing events at Strawbery Banke, the Lilac Mall, Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Gaffney House and other long-term re facilities were rewarding and welcomed by residents, shoppers and other visitors.  On an artistic level, we said fond farewell to our Director Seth Hurd as his artistic and personal paths opened new avenues for him that required him to leave us. Our replacement search brought us an extremely talented Interim Director who will direct us for the remainder of the season. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Daniel Roihl to direct us this coming semester. With a doctorate in Choral Directing, Dan brings well over 20 years of choral directing and performance experience to GSCS. He is excited to work with us to bring Nicholas White’s music to life and we look forward to working with him as well.

Of course GSCS will be out and about with activities designed to help us meet you while we work on fundraising. Be sure to check out our website and Facebook page for dates and times of our Social Painting Event, Dining to Donate, Bake Sales, upcoming Sponsor drive and summer Yard Sale. We look forward to meeting you and letting us tell you more about GSCS

Until then, let the music inside of you sound out strong!

Elizabeth Tonkins-Agea

President, Granite State Choral Society