Click HERE or on the photo to see/hear a snippet of the Northern Lights rehearsing "Bring Me Little Water, Silvie," COVID style!

The Concord Monitor wrote on October 16: "In this ever-changing world, people are continuing to search for a sense of normalcy and community. With the help of some new technology and a little bit of patience, a new driveway choir has found its way into the new normal."

The Monitor article continues: “When Director Peggo Horstmann Hodes first heard an ensemble perform in this manner, she said she was moved to tears and knew she had to bring it back to the Concord Community Music School. ‘Music is my whole life…the fact that we can sing together and hear each other just makes all the difference in the world,’ Hodes said after a Northern Lights rehearsal.”

First tested in beautiful October weather, it’s also exciting that “neither rain, nor snow…” will stop our singers! (That's Susan P. in the photo at the top.) CCMS president Peggy Senter did a discovery test drive and found that her car radio picked up the rehearsal for a city block in each direction, and her headset had clear strong sound on all 3 floors inside the Music School. “We’re so excited about the possibilities—for outdoor concerts, and sharing with colleagues, and inside for lessons and ensembles spaced in different rooms.”

Northern Lights member BJ Entwisle, who is also board president of the Concord Chorale, wrote in a letter to the Monitor: “As we all try to find ways to remain connected with each other while we endure the COVID-19 pandemic, my hat’s off to the Music School for finding a way to keep us singing." We’re thrilled to be moving forward in sharing our space and this technology with community colleagues like the Chorale.

Please come listen, watch, sing, and smile with the Songweavers as they present their first online concert, Friday, November 20, at 7:00pm. The theme of the concert is Brave...it will be participatory, connecting and inspiring -- to celebrate the ways we all are brave when faced with life's challenges. Click here for info or to reserve your spot!

The Fliers group of the larger Purple Finches Chorus has been working this fall on a virtual project entitled “Sounds of Silence.” It’s one of the many musical offerings we’re “staying tuned for” in the upcoming months!

Always an important component of the Purple Finches (grades K-8), teenage assistant directors like Rose Kosciuszek serve each year as caring mentors to chorus members. That has never been more important than this year! Often these teen mentors have grown up through the Purple Finches, as Rose did from an early age. She is now an award-winning voice student of Ellen Nordstrom, who presented this performance on the Music School’s November 6 YouTube Student Recital (our 9^th YouTube student recital since April!). Please enjoy this recital performance (click here or on the image).

Rose has been exploring her creativity, using her voice and recording technology to produce multiple-track songs. Imagining families singing together at home and young people creating their own performances to share is an inspiration to us all. Rose sent her recording of "Flicker" to Purple Finches director Maria Isaak with this message: “My mom taught me this song she used to sing when she was in Campfire Girls (like Girl Scouts) as a kid, and I did an arrangement of it today on Soundtrap. It's two partner songs that go together, and I added some backing vocals and harmonies. Thought you might like to hear. :-)” Click here to listen to Rose’s original arrangement and performance of  "Flicker."

Please visit our website for information about our outstanding faculty, upcoming performances, and new courses, along with the safety protocols we observe to keep everyone healthy.