Somerville Community Chorus rehearses for their spring concert, 2011.

By Maria S. Judge

When Paul Coakley joined the Somerville Community Chorus in 1986 he could not have imagined that he would still be anchoring the tenor section two decades later. But this Saturday when the Chorus presents its spring concert, A Celebration of Music, he will not only be Singing in the Rain, but also will be celebrating more than 25 years as the longest running member of the group.

When he first joined, just six months after it was founded, members came almost entirely from within the Somerville School department. The Chorus was started by James Crowther, the choral Director at Somerville High School, and other music teachers throughout the city joined and recruited others. As part of the Community Schools program, they were able to rehearse in the school buildings, first at the East Somerville Community School, and later at the Powderhouse School where they had an in with the Principal, none other than Paul Coakley himself.

The early repertoire consisted mostly of show tunes and lighter material, but Jim began to introduce chamber, classical and choral music, and created a small group of chamber singers who sang more challenging material. In addition to two annual concerts, the Chorus has performed around the City at tree lightings, mayoral inaugurations, nursing homes, in subway stations, and even on a Red Line train.

The Music Director and the board together decide on the theme for each season’s concert and select the music. An extensive music library of music has been compiled over the years and performances include a mix of old and new. The popular Christmas Oratorio has been performed several times with various Somerville dignitaries featured as narrators.

This spring’s concert was inspired by Saint Cecelia, the patron saint of musicians and Church music. Many composers have written Hymns, Odes, and Masses to honor her birthday and feast day (November 22), and the program features several of these, including Palestrina’s Dum aurora finem daret and Handel’s Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day.

The tenor section features another member of the Coakley family, his cousin Joanne Burns, who joined in 1987 after retiring from a long career in banking. These days she’s the only female tenor though there have been others over the years. Her secret to what keeps her singing could be summed up by another of the songs from this Sunday’s performance, How Can I Keep From Singing?

Roseanne Bent is also happy to raise her voice to Let Heavenly Music Fill This Place. A fifteen-year veteran, she likes the mix of long-timers and newcomers in the group. She was drawn to the Chorus when she saw a performance broadcast on Somerville Community Access Television and recognized several of the singers.

David Giessow took over as Music Director in 1994 and has expanded the repertoire to include more classical offerings and an occasional originally commissioned work, such as Here’s to the Music composed for last year’s 25th Anniversary Concert. Together with Joshua Lawton who has been the accompanist for the last five years, he coaxes wonderful sounds out of the 50 members of the choir.

The Somerville Community Chorus Spring 2011 Concert, A Celebration of Music, will be held on Saturday, May 14 at 5:00 PM at First Church Somerville UCC, 89 College Ave. (corner of Francesca) in Somerville, MA. Tickets are available at the door. Suggested contributions are $15 for general admission, $10 for seniors, and $6 for children under 18 with parent.

More information about the Somerville Community Chorus, including schedule of performances, or how to join the chorus, is available at www.somervillechorus.com.