Irena Kaci

If like me, you are still basking in October’s Halloween afterglow before fully committing to the Winter Holidays now only a month away. November in Worcester offers a compelling compromise in the eclectic offerings of Holiday music. Between the Sings of Song, Worcester’s Chamber Music Orchestra, Rock Voices and the broader reach of The Revels there are countless ways to usher in the transition from fall into darkness while holding on to the mystery and magic that surrounds us.

I first heard of Rock Voices from a dear friend who never misses an opportunity to see them perform. What’s unique about this group is that an audition is not required in order to join, and they sing exclusively Rock Music. Rock Voices takes seriously the mission of ‘ “healing ourselves and others through song”. Originating from the concept that singing in a room full of other people can have an incredible healing effect on people, while providing a real feeling of community, Rock Voices exist to give access to music as this powerful healing resource. 

Part of the unique approach of Rock Voices is that participants aren’t required to read music and often don’t even need to audition in order to join. The only requirement is a love of music and an open heart. Even when operating in tandem across the country, all choirs sing the same selection of music in a given session, which fosters an atmosphere of unity and camaraderie.

Even though participants in the choir hail from a range of levels the chorus director is a professional musician or choir director.  “You can sing your part along with everyone else or if you’re shy or anxious about your voice, you can just listen at first or sing quietly. We want you to be able to ease your way into the experience without fear of being singled out or made to feel uncomfortable about your voice. For those who would like to stand out, the director will hold solo auditions halfway through the session.”

I spoke with Connie Galli, from Auburn’s chapter of Rock Voices to learn more about what this local group is up to. “When I came on seven years ago, there were only about five chapters of Rock Voices. Today we boast 27 separate chapters all over New England and some sprinkled across the country. We meet up and we sing together. We are all inclusive. The Auburn chapter began in the fall of 2017 and I would say at least a third of our current 104 members have been singing together since that first season.  They are a great group of people – warm, welcoming, hard-working, and generous.  I am one very lucky director!”

Galli’s background in teaching made for an easy transition into the world of community singing. “I joined Rock Voices in the fall of the year I retired. It was like I took no breaks. I had a mutual acquaintance with Tony Letner, who is the person behind Rock Voices, and this mutual friend connected us because they knew of my interest in singing. My background was working as a high school Show Choir Director at Shepherd Hill Regional High school. I was there for 35 years so this is really my wheelhouse. Now I work with people of all ages, from college students to retirees in their 80s. We are very diverse. We work with well-trained musicians, and with absolute novices. I would say if you want an evening of just joy, come watch the choir. There’s so much joy and so much fun!”

Though Rock Voices generally focuses on Rock Music, this particular group has been pushing for some Holiday Concert singing. “This is not done across the board, but our specific group has been wanting to do holiday music for a while, so we have finally agreed to host our voluntary holiday performance. In addition to our “formal” concert on Jan 12, we are presenting a Rocking Holiday Cabaret at St. Louis Church in Webster on December 19.About 2/3 of our members are participating and it’ll raise funds for the Worcester County Food Bank.”  

Wings of Song, a South-Central Massachusetts and Northeastern Connecticut group, is another small gem worth looking out for. “Wings of Song is a community chorus, comprised of men and women of all ages from south-central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut who share the joy of song. Particular to the group is rehearsal in a learning environment with emphasis on the ultimate development of a polished presentation. Our programs include inspirational, classical and contemporary works of music intended for the listening enjoyment and enrichment of ecumenical and general audiences.” 

I was able to snag a phone call with Nym Cooke, who has been involved with the group since 2004, to learn more. “Our members are currently between 40 and 45 singers, and this present program is called ‘Peace and Joy at Christmas.’ Initially I was thinking of doing all peaceful songs but then I realized that you need that variety to keep the beautiful peaceful selections compelling. So we are featuring Bach, Handel, Charpentier, Berliotz and a new (to us) Estonian composer called Arvo Pärt.” Cooke first auditioned for the group, which used to be called the Quaboag Valley Singers back in 2004, and has never looked back. These days, Cooke is now the Musical Director for Wings of Song, and his passion for choosing just the right series shines right through as we converse. “ I want to really honor and showcase early New England, so I’m doing a little bit of William Billings and some other excellent composers from that era. We’re hoping to do three short pieces and even though the music, at face value, is very easy, the trick of it is that it has to be right on pitch. So it’ll be a fun challenge for all of us.” 

Wings of Song will host its holiday concert on December 14^th at 7:30 at Saint Anne’s Church (16 Church St.) in Fiskdale, and then again on September 15^th at 3pm at Evangelical Covenant Church in Woodstock, Connecticut. 

If traveling a bit for your holiday music isn’t a hardship for you, consider checking out The Revels.  “Revels creates musical and theatrical events and educational programs that celebrate cultural and seasonal traditions from around the world, for and with the communities we serve.” I connected with some lifelong fans to get the scoop. Gaylen Moore grew up celebrating the holidays via The Revels. “I have fond memories of going to see Revels growing up. It’s a community theater, it’s a mix of professional and amateur performers each year there’s a new theme that has to do with the solstice tradition of different cultures, a mix of traditional carols and songs from other cultures and different period of history.” Patricia Kirkpatrick is new to the tradition but enjoys sharing this regional delight with her young children. “It feels like ‘A Christmas Carol of going to the King Richards Faire for a couple of hours.” Moore rounds out the discussion: There’s audience participation just in the singing of the carols; there’s a crowd round of ‘Donna Noblis Pacem’ joins hands and dances into the great hall of Sanders Theater, which is a beautiful theater, with amazing acoustics. I’m looking forward to this year’s Celtic & Cape Verdean Themed event that includes a Selkie girl and a Seal Woman.” 

This list would be incomplete if I didn’t include perhaps the most consistent staple of our city’s performance troupes, the Worcester Chamber Music Society.  “Hailed as a group with imagination, style and chops, the Worcester Chamber Music Society took the Worcester, Massachusetts scene by storm with its initial concert in 2006. It has become a recognized cultural presence within the Greater Worcester area by presenting sold-out concerts to captivated audiences, receiving consistent critical acclaim, building new young audiences, and training rising musicians through both its Neighborhood Strings and Summer Music Camp programs. WCMS brings world-class chamber music to intimate Greater Worcester venues. WCMS nurtures the community through a unique combination of affordable concerts, education and community engagement.”

If you’re a music lover and find comfort and pleasure in listening to classic songs, there is no shortage of options to be had around these parts. So head on over to Mechanics Hall, or one of the other countless more intimate venues and enjoy or participate in making the cold, dark months just a little bit warmer and a little bit brighter.