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Williamsport Civic Chorus History Abridged |
Our New Mission Statement
"The Williamsport Civic Chorus is an open community of singers dedicated to making fine music accessible to all through education, participation and inspiration."
"Music for the people - by the people"
has been the motto of the Williamsport Civic Chorus/Choir for 62 years, the objectives are still the same: to study and perform choral works that will promote our individual and collective growth as well as that of our audience.The history of the Williamsport Civic Chorus begins in 1933. At that time Fred Christian was a student at Princeton Theological Seminary and Walter McIver was a student at Westminster Choir School. The two met and became good friends.
When Dr. Christian came to Williamsport as pastor to Covenant Central Presbyterian Church, he introduced a graded choir program. There was much interest in this program among area residents. In 1940 he invited
Walter McIver, then living in Harrisburg, to come and conduct a Community Summer Choir School. Mrs. Mary Landon Russell was their accompanist. The school was a great success. The following year, McIver became the Minister of Music at this church. After 4 years of summer choir school some members wanted training, year round, so they could form an organization and become a part of the musical life of Williamsport. A general invitation for members was issued to the public. Auditions were held for membership, and with 57 enthusiastic singers, their first rehearsal was held on September 10, 1944. Thus the Williamsport Civic Choir was formed.The Choir's first season 1944-45 consisted of two programs; Handel's "Messiah" and the Brahms "Requiem". Mary Landon Russell continued as accompanist. In 1947 the choir began holding rehearsals at Dickinson College (now Lycoming College) where Walter McIver had been appointed Instructor of Music. For the next few years they combined with the Lycoming College Choir for many of their concerts.
The first concert performed with an orchestra was Handel's "Messiah" with the Williamsport Civic Orchestra at the Capital Theatre, to a standing room only audience. With the exception of two years, the performance of the "Messiah" or portions of it was presented annually until 1970.
August 31, 1949 the choir participated with other musical organizations in the first Community Hymn Sing, which was held in Brandon Park. The choir provided musical background and carol singing for Christmas lighting ceremony held on the Court House lawn November 25, 1949. This was an annual concert for a number of years.
The first "POPS CONCERT" was given at Lycoming College on June 16, 1952. A Civic Choir Award was established to be presented to the outstanding member of the Lycoming College Choir. This is given annually.
December 22 and 23, 1953 the Civic Choir presented a very special program of Menottis' "AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS". Mrs. McIver was cast as the mother and the McIver's son, Bill portrayed Amahl as he had done on the NBC Television production. Audiences totaled over 2000.
A tenth anniversary concert was held on May 13-14, 1955. The mother from NBC's Amahl performance, Rosemary Kuhlmann was soloist. Dr. John Finley Williamson, founder and conductor of the Westminster Choir was guest conductor.
The choir was part of the entertainment in the Little League World Series program August 24, 1956.
In 1959,
Jay Stenger became the new director. He was a Lycoming College graduate and a member of the choir. Mrs. Irene Veley, a graduate of Curtis Institute of Music and a Concert Pianist, became the accompanist.During this time, the choir participated in a Community Arts Festival and a community "Messiah" chorus of over 100 singers.
Paul Ziegler
took over directing the chorus in 1966. He was a graduate of Westminster Choir College. A small group know as "THE SINGERS" was formed to sing at clubs and meetings, in the area.In 1968 the name of the group was changed to the Williamsport Civic Chorus to reflect a modernized repertoire that included both sacred and secular music. In this same year, the chorus incorporated as a non-profit organization.
Mr. Ziegler added light operas in their concert series. They included, "THE STUDENT PRINCE", "THE MERRY WIDOW", "LI'L ABNER", and "BRIGADOON".
Thomas Gallup
who was director of the Williamsport High School Choir became director in 1978. A Dinner Pops Concert was featured that year. This became a tradition for several years.Thomas Shellenberger
took over as director in 1980. He is the choral director for Loyalsock Township High School and Middle School. A production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "HMS PINAFORE" was featured that year.In 1982 the chorus provided the background music with the Susquehanna Valley Symphony for the Williamsport Civic Ballet production of the Tchaikovsky "NUTCRACKER"
The 1983-1984 season featured 3 guest conductors:
Mary Mason, Director of Music at the Faxon-Kenmar Methodist Church, Dr. Kenneth Raessler, Supervisor of Music for the Williamsport Area School District and Janet Rehman who was an instructor at Williamsport Area High School.Jolene Antista Jeffers
, a member of the music faculty at Mansfield University, was appointed Music Director for the 1984/1985 season. The full MESSIAH was performed as well as Bach's "THE SAINT JOHN PASSION". "AN EVENING WITH IRVING BERLIN" was the spring concert with guest conductor, Judy Gottschall, director at Messiah Lutheran Church.The 1986/1987 season opened with a Mozart/Brahms concert directed by
Gary Renzelman, Professor of Music at Lock Haven University. His wife, Mary was accompanist for the season.The 1987/1988 season began the 10-year directorship of
Grace Kingsbury Muzzo. During that period, Grace taught for the Jersey shore Public Schools and Lycoming College as well as Bloomsburg University.Accompanists for this period included Dianna Peeling and Nancy Ackerman
In May 1988, music by composers of the West Branch Valley was featured in a concert at Lycoming College. They included: Richard Lakey, Patricia Wilhelm, Edward Erb, Micheal Muzzo, Louise Stryker, Gary Renzelman and Fred Thayer.
A series of concerts with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra began in 1989 with the Mozart "REQUIEM". Other joint concerts with the WSO have featured: Orff's "CARMINA BURANA", Verdi's "REQUIEM", Brahm's "GERMAN REQUIEM".
On March 19, 1994, The Williamsport Civic Chorus celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a concert performed at the Community Arts Center. Along with
Grace Muzzo, directing and Nancy Ackerman, pianist, this concert featured the return of founding director, Walter McIver and accompanist, Mary Landon Russell. A group of alumni singers rejoined the choir for the concert, including soloist Mark VanValin.1995/1996 included the Bach "CANTATA" and Durufle "REQUIEM", an Opera concert with the symphony and probably the highlight of the season "Fascinating Rhythms: A Global Exploration in Song". The performance included music from "Bali to Trinidad, Israel, Africa and the Far East as well as American Gospel. Anthony Leach, an instructor of music from Pennsylvania State University, directed the African, African American and West Indies music.
1996/1997 featured concerts with the WSO, the Commonwealth Brass Quintet, a Valentine's Day Concert, performed in the Old (County) Jail. As well as a Mozart Concert with guest director
Taylor Camerer. At this time Grace and Mike moved to Atlanta GA and other pursuits (including the Robert Shaw Choral).Presently, the chorus is under the direction of
Ned Wetherald (see Story Page). His first season featured the women of the chorus and the WSO, performing Holst's "PLANETS". The 1997/1998 season progressed with and Evening Advent Music concert, a John Rutter concert including his "REQUIEM", and A Gershwin Centennial. The 1998/1999 Season saw the chorus perform the Handel "Judas Maccabaeus", a " Messiah Sing-Along", and a Randall Thompson concert featuring "The Peaceable Kingdom" and "Frostiana". WCC finished with a performance in the Williamsport Symphony Pops Concert with music from "Les Miserables". Our 56th season featured an extremely successful joint concert with the West Branch Chorale and the Repaz Band. We filled the Scottish Rite Auditorium. Next was December Daze, a lighthearted look at the holiday season. In March the WCC performed the Cherubini Requiem in C Minor. Finally, we joined forces with the Susquehanna Valley Choral in the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Our 56th season was an ambitious one. In preparation for our Tour to Central Europe, our season first concert included Dvorak Mass in D Major, Kodaly Laudes Organi and other "Jewels of Central and Eastern Europe". We then performed a concert titled " Be Glad Then America named for the Billings piece. This concert featured American Composers. Finally our last concert for the season was titled "Music of the Masters" featuring: Bach, Handel, Mozart & Haydn. Before going on tour our Tour Choir sang at the Susquehanna Arts Festival on Penn College Campus. We also had an exhibit. Finally, a smaller group of the chorus went on a concert tour of the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. For more info and photos, see the Tour Page .The 57th season started with an all Schubert concert that included the premier of the Williamsport Civic Chorus Consort. The Consort is small group of auditioned singers that work on some of the more challenging music. A Messiah Sing-a-long was done for charity. In honor of Women's History Month, the chorus performed a concert of Music by Women Composers. This concert was held at Lycoming College and featured a pre-concert lecture by Dr. Susan Wheatley from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The 58th season concluded with The Rest of Messiah. Parts II & III of Handels work was performed. The chorus, once again participated in the Susquehanna Arts Festival. A group of strolling singers performed. They finished with a trolley ride to Victorian Sunday, near Ways Garden and some more strolling singing.
The 58th season was full of pleasant surprises. Our America concert at the Park Place exceeded attendance capacity. The chorus sang in the former railroad hotel of Williamsport's hay day in the lumbering era. The chorus performed some songs from America's patriotic and folk traditions including a set from Fred Waring's choirs. Next the chorus had an all Schubert concert with 2 pianos. The concert was broadcast on WVIA-FM. Finally we had a concert based on Freedom which featured American spirituals, Hansen's "Song of Democracy" and the wonderful "Holocaust Cantata" by
Donald McCullough.The 59th Anniversary Season included a celebration dinner for the members. The first Concert entitled Peace & War featured a modern work by Bradley Nelson called "For Whom the Bell Tolls" that stretched the talents of the chorus. Following, was the Turtles and Dragons concert. A concert for children and adults, Song of Wisdom from Old Turtle based on the book by Douglas Wood featured narration by Mr. Wood. The chorus also staged the "Reluctant Dragon" with music by John Rutter. Finally, To the Baltics and Russia with love, our last concert was prepared for a future tour in Europe. The concert featured pieces from Russia, Lativia and Estonia. An American section was included to highlight the chorus's background.
The 61st season presented some unique opportunities as well as challenges. The first concert was in collaboration with the Williamsport Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The concert featured music written for royalty. We joined with the American Guild of Organists (AGO) since they represent the "King of Instruments." Music included some of George Frideric Handel's "Coronation Anthems," "Funeral Music for Queen Mary" by Henry Purcell, "I Was Glad" by Hubert Parry, and some contemporary music using "king" and "queen" in a slightly different light. The second concert was of humorous music from the classics to the present, centered around the "Knock, Knock Cantata" by PDQ Bach (1807-1742?). In addition to the music of PDQ Bach the concert included music by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) and Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and John Rutter (b. 1945) and included madrigals, love songs, and even a piece for speaking chorus. Ken Sawyer (from WRAK Radio) will acted as emcee and lead both the chorus and audience through this concert of humor with knock-knock jokes (of course), knee slappers, and groaners all in the interest of fun! Finally our last concert was the Mendelssohn favorite, Elijah. Do to an unfortunate illness, Ned was unable to direct the Elijah. He did arrange the services of Dr. Douglas Miller, Professor Emeritus from Penn State. Everything worked out and Ned returned for the 62nd season.
The
62nd season was very unique. First a Canticle concert at St. Marks with
instrumental and organ accompaniment. The 2nd concert, at Penn College was
in honor of Williamsport's Bicentennial featuring music that highlighted that
history. Finally a very emotional concert of Sing for The Cure that was produced
by the Komen Foundation benefited almost $1200 in donated funds to the Lundy
Breast Health Center.
The 63rd season began with a concert that honored the 10th anniversary of
director Ned Wetherald called "Everyone's Favorites". Following
was a concert called "Family Holiday Concert" and
included many holiday favorites. that featured the "Rutter
Gloria". In the winter a Once Upon A Time concert for the whole
family was presented. The season ended with the "Mozart Requiem"
Concert.
Please check out our pages for our exciting 64th season.
Other Music Highlights included:
Bernstein "Chichester Psalms", Bach "Magnificat", Britten "Ceremony of Carols", Haydn "Seven Words of Christ", Schubert "Mass in G", Haydn "The Seasons", Randall Thompson "Testament of Freedom", Brahms "Liebeslieder Waltzes", Vivaldi "Gloria", Rutter "Gloria", Beethoven "The Choral Fantasia", Stravinsky "Symphony of Psalms", Mendalsohn "Elijah", and Haydn "Creation". Just to name a few.