WESTMINSTER WEST, Vt. – The River Singers Community Chorus, led by Mary Cay Brass with Andy Davis, is celebrating its 35th anniversary of joyous singing together with two special holiday concerts, on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m., at the Westminster West Church.
The 70-voice River Singers Chorus is a multigenerational chorus known for its eclectic mix of community-based music from many cultural and musical traditions. You’ll hear thrilling, soulful songs from Bosnia, South Africa, Macedonia, and Belarus, rousing African American gospel, social justice songs, and more. Choir member Andy Davis will lead songs from the local Nowell Sing We Clear tradition, and one of his own compositions based on a text from “The Wind in the Willows.” The choir will also sing a memorial song arranged by and honoring Peter Amidon. Several songs will be accompanied by the choir’s amazing Balkan Band, with Laurie Rabut on fiddle, Addie Rose Holland on clarinet, Richie Davis on percussion, and Andrew Fries on trombone.
Throughout the years, the River Singers have hosted many international choirs: The Boys Choir of Kenya, The Christminster Singers, and Big Sky Chorus from the U.K.; The Zedashe Ensemble from the Republic of Georgia; the Bulgarian Pauni Trio; and Kitka, the San Francisco-based women’s Balkan ensemble. Internationally renowned choral leaders from South Africa, Georgia, Ghana, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Russia, and Albania, to name a few, have done residencies and workshops with the choir – a unique repertoire of authentic, lively, earthy sounds.
The admission fee will be donated to local organizations working in community food support.
For more information, contact mcbrass@vermontel.net, and visit www.marycaybrass.com.