By Christine Schaefer | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — Bianca, the Great Pyrenees, sat at the feet of her master, Jane Modesitt, for the two-hour choir rehearsal. She didn’t bark; she didn’t howl; she didn’t whine to go out.
I’ll take her anyplace they’ll let me in with her,” Modesitt said. “I ask her if she wants to go to choir; she goes and jumps in the car. She likes music.”
Perhaps Bianca’s contentment is due to the fact that the Greenfield Community Choir is reaching new heights with the help of director Shockley Flick. Flick is just finishing up his second year as director, and its sound has never been better. As the choir worked through the harmonies of a choral piece called “Gloria,” the 60-plus member choir — and one dog — all seemed focused on creating a beautiful sound.
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The next concert on Greenfield Community Choir’s performance schedule is the annual Valentine Dessert Program at 7 p.m. Feb. 8. Although the choir performs around the city for each of its concerts, the Valentine program is performed at the same location where the group rehearses: in the Fellowship Hall of the Greenfield Christian Church, 23 N. East St.
What makes the Valentine program unique on the Greenfield Community Choir schedule is that it is all volunteer and self-directed. Joy Gradowski, vice president of the group, is in charge of the annual February show, and has been busy recruiting soloists for the program.
Gradowski has been a member of the choir for six years. A military wife, she and her husband moved around for 13 years before settling in Greenfield. As part of the choir — and she’s been with them ever since.
“It’s all about solos,” Gradowski said, although she admits finding soloists is sometimes a challenge.
“In a group, you all kind of blend together,” she said. “It’s very hard to get people up in front of an audience to sing a solo.”
The performance agenda promises a wide variety of songs, all of which have themes of love.
Among the performers are Cynthia Maurer and Greg Smith, a brother-sister team, with a duet called “Suddenly;” Emily Eno will perform Elvis Presley’s classic, “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You;” Zina Compton will sing “True Love;” and Maddie Edwards will be performing contemporary songs from Radiohead and the heavy metal group Metallica.
“It’ll wake some of the older generation up,” Gradowski said.
With the Valentine program not being a part of the regular four-concert schedule, soloists are expected to rehearse on their own. But accompanists Chris Gordon and Angela Mickler are more than willing to come in a half hour early to go over vocals with the singers.
Not only is Gradowski in charge of rounding up solos, duets and ensembles for the program, she’s also in charge of the dessert portion of the event. Gradowski will be whipping approximately eight dozen cupcakes for the February 8 program. Other choir members will be bringing in cookies and brownies to serve to the more than 100 audience members expected at the free show.
And as if being in charge of both the performance line-up and the dessert weren’t enough, Gradowski will also be singing a solo. She plans to sing “I Have Nothing,” made famous by Whitney Houston in 1992.
In case you were wondering, Bianca won’t be performing on the 8th, but Gradowski promises a good show. She has a special fondness for the Valentine program.
“I love to let the choir members have their own moment to shine.”
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The Greenfield Community Choir will present a free Valentine’s dessert concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Greenfield Christian Church, 23 N. East St. The performance is free and open to the public.
The Greenfield Community Choir is always open to new members. Dues are $50 per half a year. Email [email protected] for more information.
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