- Choir
- History
- Artistic Leaders
- Board of Directors
- Membership
- Schedule
- Concerts
- Contact
The Naugatuck Community Choir
Don't miss this opportunity to join one of the finest community choirs in the state of Connecticut under the new direction of Mr Mark Silva. Rehearsals for the 14th annual winter concert program begin on Monday September 14, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the Naugatuck High School choir room. New registration begins at 6:30. The choir will meet every Monday evening at the Naugatuck High School Choir Room. On certain holidays and school snow days rehearsals shall take place at the Salem Lutheran Church at 14 Salem Street, Naugatuck CT. Singers of all voice parts are welcome -- but we have a need for Tenors!
New members are encouraged to come on down and join. No audition is required! Vocalists from ages 16 and older are welcome to become members. The choir is open to people from all over the Naugatuck Valley Region and beyond. So, don't hesitate. Come join and make great friends and perform great vocal music.
For more information please call Aldona Laporta 203-729-2772 or email for general information or questions
A Brief History
In October of 1997 the Naugatuck Arts Commission sought out singers to start a community choir here in the borough of Naugatuck. The Naugatuck Community Choir, now in its 13th year, encourages interest in choral music for residents of the greater Naugatuck area and beyond. It provides great music as a source of entertainment and education for the general community.
With members from 17 communities the NCC provides year round opportunities for participation in performance at a variety of local venues for entertainment, education, fundraising and the personal satisfaction of the members and the audience. The Naugatuck Community Choir is a non-profit, non-audition organization that is open to any and all adults that have a love of great choral music and a passion for excellence.
About the Artistic Director
Mr. Mark C. Silva received his Master of Music degree from the University of Connecticut and Bachelor of Music degree from Western Connecticut State University. Both degrees were awarded with a concentration in Classical Vocal Performance.
While at UCONN, Mr. Silva was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society; one of the highest academic honors bestowed upon musicians in the United States. "Election to membership in Pi Kappa Lambda has been indicative of superior attainment in music, together with the personal qualifications pertaining to an outstanding exponent of the art." Additionally, Mr. Silva served as Choirmaster of the University's Opera Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Susan Quigley-Duggan, and Assistant Conductor of the University's Men's Chorus under the direction of Dr. Peter Bagley. He also pursued performing as a tenor soloist studying with Dr. Sylvia McClain. Furthermore, Mr. Silva worked in the University's Graduate Assistant Program teaching voice to undergraduate music majors and non-majors.
At WCSU, Mr. Silva studied voice with Dr. Margaret Astrup and choral conducting with Dr. Kevin Isaacs. Numerous solo vocal opportunities were supplemented by conducting duties and choirmaster positions in the University's Opera Ensemble.
Since earning both degrees, Mr. Silva has taught private voice and piano lessons throughout the state, been Assistant Conductor to the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus and Waterbury Chorale, and is currently employed as full-time Director of Music Ministry at the Church and School of the Blessed Sacrament in Waterbury, CT. Mr. Silva serves not only as organist, cantor, and music teacher in the parish school, but he also directs a children’s choir, handbell choir, and two adult choirs while utilizing local instrumentalists at weekly masses and special events.
About the Accompanist
Norman McFarlane was born in Kingston, Jamaica where he first learned piano. After coming to the United States, he studied organ with Ezequiel Menendez and Rafael Ferreyra. Norman received his Service Playing Certificate in Organ from the American Guild of Organists, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Charter Oak State College and a Diploma in Radio & Television Broadcasting from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. He currently is the organist and accompanist for all service music at the traditional Sunday services at South United Methodist Church in Manchester. He has also served as organist at churches in Newington, Windsor Locks and Hartford and has sung with the Manchester Symphony Chorale.
Board of Directors:
Aldona Laporta, President
Gayle Marenghi, Vice President
Nikki O'Callaghan, Secretary
Marty Donovan, Treasurer
Leslie LaCharity, Librarian
Diana Scalzi, Soprano Section Leader
Merci Matcheson, Alto Section Leader
Herman Gibson, Tenor Section Leader
David Santamauro, Bass Section Leader
Membership
The Naugatuck Community Choir (NCC) is an organized choral ensemble dedicated to performing serious choral music. Membership is open to all singers in our community and surrounding towns. Our goal is to encourage interest in choral music for residents of the greater Naugatuck area and provide a source of entertainment for the general community and be numbered among the best musical organizations in the area. We require our members to be dedicated to vocal excellence and to be fiscally responsible for the future of the organization. Membership in NCC means that each member is committed to:
- Attendance: Attendance will be taken by the section leaders. Each member is expected to attend all normally scheduled rehearsals. After three absences the member may be requested by the Music Director to review the music in private to assess whether the member is at a level consistent with the rest of the choir. In addition to the consistent and timely attendance of normally scheduled rehearsals, it is expected that each member shall increase his/her personal proficiency through such methods as listening to rehearsal tapes, home study and practice of the music.
- Time: Each Member must realize that the NCC cannot exist if the only time allocated by the member is for singing. In addition to our normal rehearsal time, there will be time reserved and allocated to other group activities, whether administrative or social, which will help to ensure the Choir's success in its development as a choral organization.
- Fiscal Responsibility: Each member should feel personally responsible for their fair share of the fiscal health of the choir. Dues payment is merely the foundation. Fundraising activities, and other revenue solicitation efforts must be considered as part of every member's normal activity. Without your commitment to our financial obligations, it will be difficult to expand our artistic program and continue to pursue programs involving orchestra and other musicians.
- Performance: The NCC will present a yearly series of concerts, consisting of one in December and one in May. Additionally, to support the Arts in Naugatuck. The NCC may participate in the Annual Veterans Concert as well as other performances to which the NCC is invited to perform. The concerts will consist of various selections of music of all types and spanning the entire range of choral periods. Typically, the choir will perform with a piano, organ, chamber orchestra, or instrumental ensemble. Musical selection and selection of soloists is done by the Music Director.
Without effort and commitment in all these areas, the enormous potential and fun of choral singing cannot be maximized.
In our pursuit of choral excellence, the NCC and its members are committed to maintaining a high musical level of the choir through personal dedication, hard work and an understanding of the team effort needed to attain its goals.
Winter Schedule
| Day | Date | Event | Time | Place | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Sep. 14 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Sep. 21 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Sep. 28 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Oct. 5 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Oct. 12 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Oct. 19 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Oct. 26 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Nov. 2 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Nov. 9 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Nov. 16 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Nov. 23 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Nov. 30 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Monday | Dec. 7 | Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:30 PM | NHS Choir Room | |
| Friday | Dec. 11 | Dress Rehearsal | 7:00 - 9:00 PM | NHS Davis Auditorium | Call: 6:00 PM |
| Sunday | Dec. 13 | Concert | 2:00 - 4:00 PM | NHS Davis Auditorium | Call: 1:00 PM |
| Naugatuck Community Choir and Band | |
|---|---|
| Fanfare for Christmas: "Joy to the World" | arr. Randall Allen Bass |
| Naugatuck Community Choir | |
Three 20th-Century Carols:
|
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| Naugatuck Community Band | |
| Stars and Stripes for Christmas | John Phillip Sousa & Robert E. Foster |
| The Holly and The Ivy | Traditional, arr. Chip Davis |
| Bashana Haba ' Ah | Nurit Hirsh & Ehud Manor, arr. Lloyd Conley |
| Le Voci Chamber Choir | |
Three Renaissance Motets:
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| Naugatuck Community Jazz Ensemble | |
| Winter Wonderland | Dick Smith & Felix Bernard, arr. David Wolpe |
| We Wish You a Merry Christmas | arr. Paul Clark |
| Bashana Haba ' Ah | Nurit Hirsh & Ehud Manor, arr. Lloyd Conley |
| Naugatuck Community Band | |
| A Charlie Brown Christmas | Vince Guaraldi & Lee Mendelson, arr. Carl Strommen |
| How The Grinch Stole Christmas | Albert Hague & Eugene Poddany, arr. Larry Clark With Special Guest Narrator, Robert Sagendorf |
| Sleigh Ride | Leroy Anderson |
| Naugatuck Community Choir | |
Selections From George Frederic Handel's Messiah:
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| Naugatuck Community Choir and Band | |
| A Christmas Festival | Leroy Anderson |
Contact Information
| General Information: | info@naugatuckcommunitychoir.org |
| Membership Inquiries: | membership@naugatuckcommunitychoir.org |