There’s a singing group in Erie that was first organized before I was born. It has quite a history. Current members are now preparing for their annual Christmas concert. I can’t wait for that. In fact, I’m going to pop in on one of their rehearsals.
I’m listening to the Symphonic Singers of Erie at their rehearsal inside the Wayside Church in Millcreek. The organization was founded in 1948. Over the years, its members have presented many concerts locally and as far away as Poland. Jean Verdecchia is the music director.
“I’m enjoying being with the Symphonic Singers of Erie. They are absolutely wonderful people. Wonderful singers. They sing because they love to sing. That makes a huge difference,” she says.
The group performs two programs every year. A spring concert and a Christmas concert. They now, of course, are concentrating on this year’s Christmas show. The singers will perform traditional favorites. However, an organization that has done Christmas concerts since 1948 has quite an archive. So, this year, the group is digging into that collection and will present some songs that the audience may never have heard before.
“Nice, pleasant, uplifting choral music,” says Shelly Conrad, President of the Symphonic Singers. “Some of it will be fun and upbeat and even a little silly. And a lot of them will be very heartfelt and we’ll try not to cry. So, it will be great.”
“And the music is beautiful,” adds Jim Reim, a bass baritone. “It’s lovely. There’s classics. There are old gems that people haven’t heard. Music you wouldn’t hear anywhere else.”
Jim has been a member of the group for three years. He’s one of 25 current members. It’s a diverse group. You can see parents singing together with their grown children. The group is looking for approximately ten more members. The upcoming Christmas concerts will be a wonderful chance for prospective members to see for themselves how much fun singing as a group can be.
“One of the most fun things for me is to have us sing a piece or section of a song,” explains Jim. “And then Jean says do this and do this. Then we do what she says. And we all look at each other and say, Hey, that’s even better.”
The Symphonic Singers of Erie will hold two Christmas concerts this year. The first will be at the Wayside Church on Asbury Road in Millcreek on Sunday, December 14, at 3 pm. The other will be the next day, Monday, December 15, at Our Lady of Peace Church on West 38th Street in Millcreek at 7:30 pm.