First row: Cheryl Barker, Jan Ward, Nancy Sosman, Merry Childs, Nancy McNulty, Janet Coverdale. Second row: Susan Leunig, Joan Erler, Deb Nichols, Jolan Ippolito. Missing: Debbie Luxton and Director Simon Smith
NORWAY — The Mollyockett Chorus, a women’s barbershop group that sings together in Norway every Tuesday night, invites all women singers to an Open House on Tuesday, September. 20, to get a taste of what the Chorus is all about. Chorus members will talk a little about the organization and sing a few numbers for you. Our fantastic conductor, Simon Smith, will teach a few songs (sing along or not, as you choose), and the chorus members hope to share their love of barbershop singing with you. There are no obligations of any kind! Come whether you are searching for a new place to sing, or if you are just curious.
The Chorus was organized in 1996 and is a chapter of Harmony Inc., an international women’s barbershop organization. New members are always welcome!
If you are not familiar with barbershop, it is a style that arranges songs into a series of four-part chords. Originally developed for men’s voice, the four parts still carry male names: Lead, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass – but these parts are all written for women’s voices. The Leads (high alto to mezzo range) usually carry the melody, the Tenors (soprano range) harmonize above the tune, the Basses (low alto to tenor range) provide the foundation, and the Baritones (alto range) twine above and below the Leads, adding unexpected notes that gives the chords a twist. Most of the songs are light-hearted, drawn from popular music, while the harmonies are tight and amazing to sing. Singers have such fun with them! When you hear the chords ring, you can’t help but
smile.
The Mollys meet year-round and perform where and when they are asked, often as part of a local music or arts festival. Sometimes they have a sing-out just for fun. They will be at the Bridgton Farmers’ Market on Saturday, September 24 – come and hear them while you search for the last corn of the season!
Open House details: Tuesday, September 20, at 6:30 p.m. downstairs in the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 479 Main Street in Norway. There is parking behind the church and on the street. There are carpools from Bethel and Rumford. Questions/more info: contact Nancy Sosman at nansos@pivot.net or 787-2638, or Jolan Ippolito at mollyockettchorus@gmail.com or 364-4102.
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