Encore Chorale presented ten concerts this spring season and all ten of them showed how very talented the Encore singers, ages 55 and up, are.  The varied repertoire included spirituals Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit arranged by Moses Hogan and Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel,  The Water is Wide with harp accompaniment, and Down to the River to Pray from the Motion Picture O Brother, Where Art Thou! The lighter side brought Just One of Those Things by Cole Porter and a wonderful medley of Lerner and Loewe.   Ending the concert was Gershwin’s triumphant Strike Up the Band.

The season started off with the Myerberg Encore Chorale performing for the Myerberg Senior Center Gala, featuring TV actor and writer Michael Tucker.  The singers sang a spirited mini concert of portions from Lerner and Loewe and ended with a rousing Strike Up the Band.  They were indeed very well received.  Michael Tucker’s (who is 65 years old himself) kindergarten teacher, June Sachs, was in the chorale.   Talk about a surprise for Tucker!

Singers from Langston, Smithsonian, Lorton and Potomac Academy at George Mason University performed a rousing concert at Lorton Workhouse Arts Center on May 1 under the “Big Top.”  Their concert was the first of Lorton’s summer concert season and the singers sang a spirited concert in 90 degree temperatures.  Their sound was precise and exciting and the audience rewarded the singers with much applause.  They certainly opened the Lorton Workhouse summer season in grand style. PHOTO ALBUM.

The next week Myerberg singers gave a memorable performance for the Myerberg Art Show and the large audience of over 200 showed their appreciation.

The Woodlands Retirement Community hosted Encore Chorales from Lorton and Potomac Academy of GMU for an Encore performance at their Open House.  The thirty singers were impressive in their performance, singing with clarity and focused sound.

The next evening found the original “Senior Singers Chorales” in concert at the Goodwin House Baileys Crossroads Retirement Community and on May 19 at the Goodwin House Alexandria.  The ninety singers gave a rousing performance and Ben Wilmot, a Goodwin House Baileys resident, presented a very impressive and beautiful piano medley of Cole Porter melodies.  Both evenings were a sheer delight.

Encore’s next concert was at St. Stephen’s Methodist Church in Burke, VA where Encore was the final act in St. Stephen’ spring concert series.  The magnificent space helped make the singers sound truly fabulous.   Encore Chorale singers from Langston, Lorton, Potomac Academy at GMU and Smithsonian performed flawlessly.   The finale was an audience sing along to The Sound of Music score and they certainly put out a great sound.  It was a most memorable afternoon.  PHOTO ALBUM.

The final week Schweinhaut Encore Chorale presented a concert at the Schweinhaut Senior Center in Silver Spring where they enjoyed a large audience.  The 55 singers performed beautifully, finishing their first year as an Encore Chorale.   Edward Chow, Jr. Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, a former member of the Smithsonian Encore Chorale, brought an eloquent message from Maryland Governor, Martin O’Malley.  There were many veterans in the audience and Secretary Chow’s visit was most appreciated.  PHOTO ALBUM.

Encore was pleased to present the Maryland Encore Chorales in their first performance together at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD on Thursday, May 20.   The singers had a big, beautiful sound and the energy level was huge.  The auditorium was packed to hear these wonderful singers in concert.   The guest artist for the evening was the fun and exciting Maryland Express Barbershop Quartet.  One of their songs required an audience member to sing and sustain a “very high note” for a “very long time.”  Tenor Don Carter from the Schweinhaut Encore Chorale stepped up to the plate magnificently.  The crowd roared!  Secretary Edward Chow of the Maryland Veteran’s Affairs again addressed the audience with words from Gov. O’Malley and the evening was a huge success. PHOTO ALBUM.

After a long and busy couple of weeks, Encore reached the end of the season with a final concert on Friday, May 21 at Washington – Lee High School with over 170 Encore Chorale singers performing.  It was an incredible evening of American Song with fabulous singing and energy.   The very large crowd nearly filled the 400 seat auditorium.  Smithsonian baritone Terry Hufford accompanied the lovely Water is Wide on the harp with the singers.  The guest artist for the evening was Alan Yellowitz of The Beat Goes On.  He did a drumming circle, inviting audience and chorale members to join in on the fun.   There were many different kinds of percussion instruments played by audience and chorale members, ages 8 thru 84! Lots of great sound!  PHOTO ALBUM. BEAT GOES ON PHOTOS.

This final concert was proof that older adults can flourish and perform a top quality concert with total command if given the opportunity to study under a professional artist.  They were simply superb.

A detailed schedule of the concerts, along with links to photo albums, is below.

Mon. Apr 26th, 7:00pm	Baltimore Hebrew Congregation	Myerberg Chorale - "An Evening with Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry"
Sat. May 1st, 3:00pm	Lorton Workhouse Arts Center - Under the Tent	Lorton, Langston Brown, Potomac Academy of GMU, Smithsonian Chorales PHOTOS
Sun. May 2nd, 4:00pm	Myerberg Senior Center	Myerberg Chorale at Myerberg Senior Center Art Show
Tue. May 11th, 12:30pm	Woodlands Retirement Community, Fairfax	Potomac Academy of GMU at Woodlands Open House
Wed. May 12th, 7:30pm	Goodwin House, Bailey's Crossroads	GHA, GHBC, Langston Chorales
Sun. May 16th, 3:00pm	St. Stephen's UMC Church, Burke, VA	Langston Brown, Lorton, Potomac Academy at GMU Chorales - St. Stephen's Concert Series PHOTOS
Mon. May 17th, 7:00pm	Margaret S. Schweinhaut Senior Center	Schweinhaut Chorale PHOTOS
Wed. May 19th, 7:30pm	Goodwin House Alexandria	GHA, GHBC, Langston Chorales
Thur. May 20th, 7:30pm	Pascal Performing Arts Center, Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD	AACC, Myerberg, and Schweinhaut Chorales And Featuring the Maryland Express Barbershop Quartet PHOTOS
Fri. May 21st, 7:30pm	Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, VA	Lorton, Potomac Academy of GMU, GHA, GHBC, and Smithsonian Chorales Featuring Alan Yellowitz and The Beat Goes On PHOTOS BEAT GOES ON PHOTOS
Wed. June 2, 7:00pm	Laurel Lake Retirement Community, Hudson, OH	Laurel Lake Chorale