The singers were simply trying to earn tuition money, but they found careers.

RUMFORD – The Rumford Community Concert Association opens its 55th season Saturday, Sept. 24, with a performance by The Coats, an a capella vocal band from Seattle. The Coats’ concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Muskie Auditorium at Mountain Valley High School.

Earlier Saturday, The Coats will present a special “encore” mini-performance for singers. This workshop will take place at Mountain Valley High School at 2:00 p.m.

The Coats started on the street corners of Seattle, near the city’s famous Pike Place Market. Singing for tourists, locals, fish vendors and fellow buskers, their ambitions of helping to pay their tuition bills quickly evolved into full-time performance careers.

Since then, they’ve won national vocal competitions, sung for the president and share the stage with such talented musicians as Ronnie Milsap, Trisha Yearwood, Montgomery Gentry, The Beach Boys, Tanya Tucker, Billy Dean, Crystal Gayle and Colin Ray. They also have continued their tradition of outreach performances and workshops supporting music in schools throughout the Northwest.

Subscriptions for the season, which also features The Newstead Trio and the Montana Mandolin Society, are still available. The cost: $35 for all three performances. For subscriptions or info, call Becky Welsh at 364-7612 or Barbara Smith Baker at 369-9141.