The Gorham Community Chorus (GCC) will perform on May 21 at MPAC. The chorus started in 1992 and consists of singers of all ages, genders, voices, and abilities. They meet weekly to practice for half a school year to produce a concert at Gorham High every fall and spring, often sharing the stage with other local talent, such as the GHS chorus. They have also performed at several of the Gorham New Year’s Celebrations. But what is it that really puts the “community” in the Community Chorus? They perform their dress rehearsals at the Gorham House Assisted Living Center, bringing live music to those unable to attend the concert.
The chorus has had several directors in the past, but for twenty-one years, Gorham resident and recently retired music teacher, John Rimkunas, has been the one to “continuously coax out an amazing sound from a disparate group with both humor and the patience of a saint,” according to members of the group. They say, “In his typical optimistic way he encourages the community to join in the fun.”
The group encourages new members to join, grow as a singer with professional direction, and make a new family of friends. The chorus will be accepting new singers for the Fall 2023 season beginning on September 11.
Photo credit: Roger MarchandGorham Community Chorus rehearsing in preparation for their upcoming performance
There has also been a plethora of pianists who have given up their nights and weekends to accompany this chorus. The talented Eric Peppe, Buxton resident and avid piano tuner, teacher, and player, joined the GCC in 2017. When asked what he enjoys most about working with the chorus he replied, “The people and the music. They both are great. There are all types of people, from professional music teachers to people with no formal knowledge who just like to sing. And the music is diverse too, some easy, some challenging, some popular, some classic.”
A sure sign of the success of this chorus is how long singers stay once they become a member. Several have been there since the beginning; longtime Gorham residents Cindy Smith and Kerry Dyer from day one, and Bill Tracy, a Standish native who said that his grandmother got him singing at age five, joined shortly thereafter. Over a third of the chorus has been involved for over a decade.
One member said, “I went to college and sang in a barbershop quartet with the original director, Chris Peterson, so both my wife and I were quick to sign up and create this new chorus,” Kerry explained.
The GCC is often a family affair with married couples, parents and their children, sisters and brothers and aunts, uncles and cousins signing up together and getting a discount on registration as well. For example, Gorham resident Camille Rowe joined the first year and sang for many more before moving on; decades later, her husband Phil and daughter Katie joined the chorus.
Original member Cindy Smith shared, “My daughter Jen sang with me for the first year and my twins Nancy and Christina have attended nearly every GCC concert from the beginning when they were only 7. They went on to join the chorus in 1997 and have been singing in it ever since.”
To join this non-audition chorus and share your love of music with the community, check them out on Facebook or contact the director John Rimkunas at gorhamcommunitychorus@gmail.com. And remember to catch the “Shine the Light” spring concert at MPAC on May 21 at 7 p.m. and get a bargain at their silent auction during admission.