LEWISTON — A summer tour is bringing Lewiston native Colin Britt home as the director of the West Village Chorale of New York City.

A New Jersey resident, Britt wears a lot of hats as the artistic director and conductor of the chorale, the choir director at Rutgers Preparatory School in Franklin Township, New Jersey, and the director of music at Grace Church Van Vorst in Jersey City, New Jersey.

“I’m also still active with a theater in West Hartford, where I lived in college, that does summer performances and I have a few composition projects on the table,” Britt said.

As director of the chorale, he oversees its artistic endeavors throughout the year and conducts each of their performances, as well as meeting monthly with the board of directors to discuss events and finances.

“We have three main concerts each year, as well as two large-scale fundraising events, smaller performances throughout the year, and a tour every other summer,” he said.

He spends most of the year programming the next concert season and has 10 weeks of rehearsal with the group to prepare for each concert.

“It’s a lot of time and energy, but it’s so much fun,” Britt said.

He said it wasn’t that difficult to convince the board of directors to have shows in Maine because they suggested performing in Canada.

“Performing in my hometown is definitely equal parts nostalgia and excitement, as I have such wonderful memories of performing in Lewiston-Auburn,” Britt said. “It’s also always exciting getting to sing in new places and try out new acoustics.

The West Village Chorale’s performance Sunday will be Britt’s first time conducting and singing with a choral group in the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Ash Street.

He said he’s also excited to show off his beautiful home state to his New York friends.

“The last concert I gave in Maine was a recital at the University of Maine at Farmington three years ago,” he said. It was a cabaret of theater and popular music with his wife, Tori.

Before that, it was at Community Little Theater in Auburn in 2007 when he performed in and went on to direct musicals.

“That’s actually where I cut my teeth as a musical director and conductor,” he said.

According to Britt, this summer’s chorale tour features a diverse assortment of choral Americana, including Sacred Harp, a tradition of sacred choral music that originated in New England. There will also be early hymns, folk music, 20th century masterworks and spiritual and gospel traditions.

“I’ve always liked keeping active in different musical areas — that hasn’t changed even 15 years after high school,” he said.

The chorale will also present the New England and Canadian premiere of one of Britt’s pieces, and there will be occasional guest conductors and pianists.

The West Village Chorale will also perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at St. Luke’s Cathedral, 143 State St. in Portland.

Maine native Colin Britt, front row third from right, poses with the West Village Chorale in New York City. (Submitted photo)

Maine native Colin Britt conducts the West Village Chorale of New York City. (Submitted photo)

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