BElmont Community ChoRUS
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Our choir began in 2012 as a small band of singers gathered on a warm, late summer night in the chorus room at Belmont High School to discuss the possibility of forming a community chorus, after some of us sang in the six-week Belmont parent-teacher chorus the previous winter. Our founding leader, Kathy Ryan, asked "Why can't we keep on singing all year round?" We closed the evening singing an a cappella round, committed to "going for it". Our numbers were few, but our spirit was strong. We have been singing together as the Belmont Community Chorus ever since!
Our mission is to unite singers from Belmont, MA, and surrounding communities with song. For beginner to experienced singers alike, we seek to provide an opportunity to gather regularly to sing and improve our vocal skills, and to perform as an ensemble at local venues. We sing a variety of exciting and diverse vocal music from yesterday to today. All are welcome. |
music director
Calvin Isaac Wamser (BHA in Global Studies and Music Composition, Carnegie Mellon University; MM in Choral Conducting, New England Conservatory of Music) is a music educator, composer, and performer based in the Boston area. Working as Assistant Conductor with the Boston Children’s Chorus and the New England Conservatory Youth Chorale has been instrumental in building his teaching philosophies across various age groups. As a director, his goal is to lead a student-oriented learning environment, regardless of age or experience. Due to his background in liberal arts as a conductor, Calvin programs and conducts historically informed concerts, with diverse repertoire selections which highlight under-represented composers throughout time, and living composers as well. As a classical composer, Calvin utilizes concepts from Music History to compose music that melds Medieval/Renaissance ideas with modern harmony. His works have been performed in countries around the world, including South Africa and Russia.
MUSIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Mary Louise Schecter (BA Music Education, The College of Wooster; MFA in Voice Performance, Southern Illinois University) began choral conducting in 1971, at the beginning of her 34-year career as an elementary and middle school music teacher in the Weston Public Schools. Her goal throughout has been to foster the love of music, encourage enthusiastic participation, help choristers develop their singing voices, and encourage them to appreciate that cooperation produces the most gratifying results. Since retirement, Mary Louise has directed a number of adult and children's choruses in the greater Boston area. She is Founding Director and Accompanist for the MetroWest Performing Arts Center Children's Chorus; Director and Accompanist for Sangerchor Boston, a German-language adult chorus; and Accompanist for the Weston Public Schools Middle School Chorus. In addition, she was previously Director of the Dorchester House Neighborhood Chorus, Boston Children's Chorus (2006-2007); Creator and Director of the Middle School Boys' Chorus at the Rivers School in Weston (2005-2007); and Director (sabbatical leave replacement) of Middle and Upper School Choral Music at Milton Academy (Spring 2005).
