Pemigewasset Choral Society
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History

Picture
PictureDr. Earl Norwood


On May 12, 1974 a group of 29 nervous singers gathered in the College Union Building at Plymouth State College in Plymouth, New Hampshire.  An audience of 35 family members was present, curious to hear the result of six months of rehearsals.  An hour later, as the last of the selections concluded, the enthusiasm of the performers and audience was tangible.  The Pemigewasset Choral Society had been launched.
 
Known affectionately as “Pemi” by its members, the chorus had its genesis at a meeting of arts enthusiasts held in Plymouth a year earlier, in the spring of 1973.  Meeting to discuss ways to enhance arts offerings in the region, two young women  -- Katherine Hillier and Vivian Norwood -- went on to create the Choral Society, while others organized Plymouth Friends of the Arts. 

Dr. Earl Norwood, then Associate Professor of Music at Plymouth State College, served as the Choral Society’s original director, providing the first opportunity in many decades for adults in central New Hampshire to sing under professional leadership. 

In 1979, Dr. Robert Swift, Professor of Music at Plymouth State College, took over as director, with Margot Swift serving as accompanist.  Under their leadership, Pemi grew to over 120 singers from all over the Lakes Region who collectively traveled thousands of miles each week for rehearsals. 

When the Swifts’ retired in 2011, Rob St. Cyr became Music Director along with accompanist Hannah Kim.  Leslie McDonnell and Will Gunn took over the leadership of the Choral Society in 2012 with Catherine Dornin as accompanist.  In 2014, Grace Templeton became the Pemi accompanist, to be succeeded two years later by Laura Belanger for the 2016 winter concert. Will Gunn became full-time director in 2017.

Now a chorus of 93, members of the Pemi range from college students to octogenarians, and represent a wide variety of occupations and experiences.  The group performs a varied repertoire of classical and contemporary works as well as folk and show tunes; a series of concerts are offered each year in December and May.   No auditions are held; the only membership requirement is a love of singing, the ability to sing on key, and the commitment to attend weekly rehearsals. 

The 2022-2023 concert year will mark the 50th season of the Pemigewasset Choral Society.


Below is a list of our concert series going back to 1974, our very first season.

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      PEMIGEWASSET CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERTS -- SEASONS 1 - 50      
Season Year Term Concert Title Director(s) Accompanist Board President
1 1974 Spring Spring Concert Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin Jeff Davis
2 1974 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin Jeff Davis
  1975 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin Katherine Hillier
3 1975 Winter American Hymns and Carols Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin Katherine Hillier
  1976 Spring American Choral Music Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin Annla Neikam
4 1976 Winter Messiah Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin Annla Neikam
  1977 Spring Spring Concert Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin John Prouty
5 1977 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin John Prouty
  1978 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Earl Norwood Catherine Dornin John Prouty
6 1978 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society W. Douglas Renfroe Robert Bates John Prouty
  1979 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society W. Douglas Renfroe Robert Bates Carla Zwahlein
7 1979 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Robert Bates Carla Zwahlein
  1980 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Robert Bates Carla Zwahlein
8 1980 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Carla Zwahlein
  1981 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Carla Zwahlein
9 1981 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Paul Buck
  1982 Spring Elijah: Part 1 Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Paul Buck
10 1982 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Paul Buck
  1983 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Paul Buck
11 1983 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift T. Holmes Moore
  1984 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift T. Holmes Moore
12 1984 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift T. Holmes Moore
  1985 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift T. Holmes Moore
13 1985 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Allan Dehls
  1986 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Allan Dehls
14 1986 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Allan Dehls
  1987 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Allan Dehls
15 1987 Winter Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Dan Hale
  1988 Spring Pemigewasset Choral Society Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Dan Hale
16 1988 Winter Christmas Season Concerts Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Dan Hale
  1989 Spring Spring Concerts 1989 Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Dan Hale
17 1989 Winter Songs of Praise and Adoration Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Cindy Biese
  1990 Spring Songs for a Gentler Season Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Cindy Biese
18 1990 Winter Christmas Season Concerts Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Raymond DeRaymond
  1991 Spring Country Folk in Concert Attire Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Raymond DeRaymond
19 1991 Winter Holiday Concerts Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Bruce Ritchie
  1992 Spring Music by Women Composers Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Bruce Ritchie
20 1992 Winter Holiday Concerts Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Bruce Ritchie
  1993 Spring A Highland Sing Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Bruce Ritchie
21 1993 Winter Share the Gift of Music Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Ken Bergstrom
  1994 Spring Songs of Water: Springtide Concerts Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Ken Bergstrom
22 1994 Winter Joy and Thanksgiving Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Ken Bergstrom
  1995 Spring Lest We Forget: A Choral Commemoration of Peace Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Ken Bergstrom
23 1995 Winter The Splendor of the Baroque Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Wavell Fogleman
  1996 Spring A Birthday Celebratioon for Plymouth State College at 125 Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Wavell Fogleman
24 1996 Winter Haydn's Creation Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Wavell Fogleman
  1997 Spring And Heaven and Nature Sing Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Wavell Fogleman
25 1997 Winter Songs of Two Seasons Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Alex Livingstone
  1998 Spring Spring Concerts: Celebrating 25 Years in Song Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Alex Livingstone
26 1998 Winter Rejoice, Rejoice! A Concert of Seasonal Music Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Alex Livingstone
  1999 Spring Songs of Yesteryear Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Alex Livingstone
27 1999 Winter Time and Again Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Bill Nunamacher
  2000 Spring Voices in Harmony Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Bill Nunamacher
28 2000 Winter Cantate Domino Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Bill Nunamacher
  2001 Spring Words & Music Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Bill Nunamacher
29 2001 Winter Peace on Earth Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Cindy Biese
  2002 Spring I Hear America Singing Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Cindy Biese
30 2002 Winter Songs for the Season Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Cindy Biese
  2003 Spring Five Centuries of Song (30th Anniversary Concert) Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Cindy Biese
31 2003 Winter A Musical Seasons' Greeting Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Kevin Sousa
  2004 Spring The International Language of Song Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Kevin Sousa
32 2004 Winter Glad Tidings Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Kevin Sousa
  2005 Spring Friends and Neighbors Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Kevin Sousa
33 2005 Winter Joy! Joy! Joy! Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Matthew DeWever
  2006 Spring Israel in Egypt Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Matthew DeWever
34 2006 Winter Peace Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Matthew DeWever
  2007 Spring A Choral Kaleidoscope Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Matthew DeWever
35 2007 Winter Songs of Praise and Adoration Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Lea Stewart
  2008 Spring ELIJAH Plus . . . Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Lea Stewart
36 2008 Winter Sing for Joy Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Lea Stewart
  2009 Spring On With the Show Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Lea Stewart
37 2009 Winter In Dulci Jubilo Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Lea Stewart
  2010 Spring America the Beautiful Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Lea Stewart
38 2010 Winter Joy to the World Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Lea Stewart
  2011 Spring A Choral Celebration Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Lea Stewart
39 2011 Winter To Hear the Angels Sing Dr. Robert Swift Margot Swift Dan Hale
  2012 Spring Songs of Gratitude Rob St. Cyr Hannah Kim Dan Hale
40 2012 Winter Peace on Earth Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Catherine Dornin Dan Hale
  2013 Spring Love Offered, Love Received Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Catherine Dornin Dan Hale
41 2013 Winter The Glory of the Season Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Catherine Dornin Dan Stover
  2014 Spring The Glory of Creation Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Catherine Dornin Dan Stover
42 2014 Winter Aspects of Joy Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Grace Templeton Dan Stover
  2015 Spring American Tapestry Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Grace Templeton Dan Stover
43 2015 Winter A Time for Celebration! Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Grace Templeton Dan Stover
  2016 Spring I Write the Songs Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Grace Templeton Ann Nichols
44 2016 Winter Hope is Born Leslie McDonnell/Will Gunn Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
  2017 Spring Fauré Requiem Will Gunn/Leslie McDonnell Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
45 2017 Winter Pinkham's Christmas Sonata Will Gunn/Leslie McDonnell Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
  2018 Spring A Time for Justice Will Gunn Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
46 2018 Winter When Icicles Hang Will Gunn Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
  2019 Spring A Walk in the Woods Will Gunn Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
47 2019 Winter Gloria Will Gunn Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
  2020 Spring Canceled due to Covid-19 Will Gunn Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
48 2020 Winter Canceled due to Covid-19 Will Gunn Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
  2021 Spring Gather at the River (w NH Master Chorale) Will Gunn Laura Belanger Ann Nichols
49 2021 Winter Snow Angel Will Gunn Laura Belanger Marilyn Pomerantz (acting)
  2022 Spring Requiem for the Living Will Gunn Laura Belanger Marilyn Pomerantz (acting)
50 2022 Winter Sing Out, My Soul Will Gunn Laura Belanger Susan Scrimshaw
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Newsletters
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    • FAQ
    • History
    • In Memoriam
    • Leadership
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Concerts
    • Support
    • Watch
  • Join Us !
  • Members
  • Download Music
  • Photos
    • Winter 2019
    • Spring 2019
    • Winter 2018
    • Spring 2018
    • Spring 2021
    • Winter 2021
    • Spring 2022
  • Contact