Be it on the lonesome ride home from work, in the shower, or even for the sake of public performance, President Dan Hale of the Pemigewasset Choral Society of Central New Hampshire believes that everyone has a voice to be heard.
Founded 41 years ago by a rather small (29 members to be exact), organized adult community chorus, the Pemigewasset Choral Society of Central New Hampshire has transitioned with the times.
At it’s largest, the Pemigewasset Choral Society had more than triple the amount of its original members; and in the geographical sense, the choral group evolved from a virtually local society, to its current member disbursement from all corners of the state of New Hampshire.
The participant demographic is an impressive facet on its own, as the group’s past and present participants have attracted the likes of teaching professionals, bankers, and even physicians – not including the students here at Plymouth State.
Within the University, past members have studied various majors, from business, to visual art, and even the social and physical sciences. Simply put, the Pemigewasset Choral Society opens its arms to all of those who are interested in singing, regardless of their native community, scholastic or working status.
This diverse and welcoming environment is exactly what separates this choral group apart from any other musical society that we at The Clock have ever heard of. The requirement, which is more so a group similarity, is simply this: to possess the love for song. You do not need to acquire the ability to read music, nor dance. The only instrument that one is required to use is the one which we are all born with- a voice.
The personal fulfillment is not the only perk of joining the Pemigewasset Choral society, however. Not only does the organization help to forge dues of those who participate in the organization’s fundraising, but the society additionally awards generous scholarships annually.
This year, however, the Pemigewasset Choral Society is not quite complete, as the number of student participants has dropped. “We truly miss the students,” claims President Hale, “their presence broadens the richness of our group.”
Care to contribute to the richness?
President Hale claims that the joining process is simple. All meetings, with the exception of the first meeting, run fairly smoothly. The first meeting however, takes a little more time due to the registration process, which is held at 7:00 p.m. on September 9th 2013.
All other in-season rehearsals are held on Monday nights from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. in the Plymouth State University Silver Center for the Arts.
The Pemigewasset Choral Society hosts two annual concerts, the first in early December, and this year, the second falls on Mother’s Day weekend. To convene clashing work and school schedules, the Choral Society holds 3 separate, consecutive concerts. This year, the first concert will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2013 in the Gilford Community Church in Gilford, NH at 7:30 p.m.; the second concert will be held on Friday, May 10 2013 in the St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Franklin, NH at 7:30 p.m.
The last but most certainly not least, final performance of the season will take place on this upcoming Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. in the Silver Center for the Arts.
As a community-fostering group such as the Pemigewasset Choral Society would have it, the organization can and will make accommodations for those who have transportation difficulties. If you fall into this category, please contact the choral group via email at: ContactUs@pemichoral.org.
“I do not believe that chorus has to stop in middle school,” continues President Hale, who concludes by saying that, “You can sing your entire life without stopping.” All it takes, as the President emphasized, is “passion”- a premise that is in juxtaposition with the very belief held here at Plymouth State University – and that is, that anything is possible.