Schoharie Valley Singers to Present Joyful Spring Concert

CENTRAL BRIDGE – The Schoharie Valley Singers are ready to fill the air with music, laughter, and heartfelt joy at their Spring Concert, Sounding Joy, this weekend!

The first performance will be on Friday, May 2, at 7:30 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Church Street in Central Bridge. If you can’t make it Friday, don’t worry — a second performance will take place on Saturday at 4:00 PM at the Duanesburg Reformed-Presbyterian Church. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased ahead of time from any Singer.

This delightful program features a blend of familiar favorites and exciting new works by composers like Wilberg, Bruckner, Parker, Walker, LaBarr, Paulus, Silvey, Pederson, and many more.

Adding extra sparkle to the concerts, a wonderful lineup of guest artists will join the Singers:

• Betsy Meredith will enchant on clarinet for For This Joy.

• Burke Herrick will step up as guest conductor for Locus Iste.

• Vincent Marotta (bass) and Issac Nokes (drums) will bring a lively energy to Kyrie from Jazz Missa Brevis, followed by Credo from Gospel Mass, where they’ll be joined by the soulful voice of guest soloist Alexa Rahman.

• In the second half, Sarah Wright will grace the piano for Saints Bound for Heaven, Adrienne Canterbury will move hearts with her solo in The Road Home, and Elizabeth Hopkins will accompany the group on Homeward Bound.

The Schoharie Valley Singers have a rich and beloved history. They began in 1979 as the Depot Lane Singers under the leadership of Frances B. Tripp, a cherished Schoharie High School music teacher. Over the decades, they have evolved, changed names, and grown stronger, always carrying forward their mission of sharing beautiful music with the community.

In 2005, the baton was passed to Mitch Haverly, who was later honored as Director Emeritus when Benjamin April stepped into the role of Artistic Director in 2018. That same year, the group adopted the name Schoharie Valley Singers and officially became an independent nonprofit organization.

Exciting new chapters continued in 2023 with Rae Jean Teeter — a retired Guilderland High School music director — becoming the Singers’ fourth Artistic Director, and Mark Pracher, a retired Schoharie High School music director, joining as accompanist.

The Schoharie Valley Singers invite you to come share in an evening (or afternoon) of joy, music, and community. It promises to be a celebration you won’t want to miss!