Introducing Elizabeth Lopes, WMV Choral Scholar
Date Posted: Mon, Nov 11 2024
| "Singing is a part of me and I love doing it!" says Elizabeth Lopes, a senior at St. Johnsbury Academy, who is a soprano choral scholar with WMV. Elizabeth has been singing in choirs since sixth grade and continues to love musical theater and singing and performing songs from musicals. She has also played trumpet in the band in the past. She says, "Music makes my life better because it has helped me find my voice and made me much more confident. " |
2024-2025 Fundraising Campaign is Underway
Date Posted: Mon, Nov 11 2024
| On October 15, 2024 WMV launched its annual fund-raising campaign. We continue to grow our youth programs and are excited to be accompanied by a string quartet for our winter concert. We strive for fair reimbursement for the talented guest musicians who help us ensure the highest quality performances for our local audiences. The organization continues to work on refining budgeting needs for such behind the scenes requirements as advertising, recruitment, mailing, and website maintenance. Your continued support is greatly appreciated and we promise to use your dollars judiciously! |
WMV at Ogontz
Date Posted: Tue, Oct 1 2024
| This summer several members of White Mountain Voices were able to join Artistic Director Victoria Cole at the Ogontz Music Camp in nearby Lyman, NH. The group worked with renowned choral conductor David Hill to study the Verdi Requiem. Pictured L ro R: WMV President Karen Rennar, Rick Umiker, David Hill, Artistic Director Victoria Cole, and Shep Holcombe. |
Annual Meeting Held 9/23/24 (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Thu, Sep 26 2024
| White Mountain Voices held their annual meeting on 9/23/24 at All Saint’s Episcopal Church in Littleton. Board President Karen Rennar thanked members, volunteers, donors, and supporters for contributing to a successful year that saw 2 concert performances, enhanced recruitment of singers, and the addition of music theory lessons prior to rehearsals. The group is looking forward to its next new initiative, a community sing. The group hopes to help strengthen community bonds, engage people with singing, and to highlight the benefits of music for individuals and communities. Artistic Director, Victoria Cole, reviewed the progress the chorus has made in tackling more difficult music, learning to sing unaccompanied, and in creating a beautiful, balanced and blended sound. She noted that in the past year we have shifted to matinee concerts and added a new performance venue (Lancaster Town Hall). Successful youth initiatives were a highlight of the year. White Mountain Voices, a chorus of children ages 6-14, performed at both concerts with a core group of 8 singers. Alvah Johson, of Profile High School, was the group’s teen Choral Scholar in the bass section for both concerts. He is now attending the prestigious music program at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Attendees also heard updates from the Treasurer, Development Committee, and Marketing Committee. The organization reports a sound and improving financial standing, with funding streams consistent with norms for arts organizations. The new website at whitemountainvoices.com and the accompanying app have improved member communication and enhanced public visibility. The group maintains a social media presence with Facebook and Instagram. As the new performance year unfolds, the group’s strategic plan includes continued artistic growth, ongoing community outreach, ongoing goals for financial stability, and a focus on recruiting youth and adult singers. |
New App Available for Chorus Members
Date Posted: Mon, Aug 19 2024
 Beginning in 2024, White Mountain Voices members have the option of using the Harmony Site White Mountain Voices app for their phones. The Board of Directors approved this convenient option so members can easily access information about upcoming events and practice tapes. The app is available for i-phones or android phones. |
Victoria Cole, Artistic Director, Attends Summer Workshops (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Fri, Aug 16 2024
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| Artistic Director, Victoria Cole, shares her summer enrichment experiences: In June I attended the Atlanta Summer Choral Conducting Institute held at Georgia State University and led by nationally recognized conductors Deanna Josephs and Daniel Bara. Approximately 50 participants worked intensively on conducting gesture, score preparation, and choral vocal pedagogy using choral masterworks form Handel, Bruckner, Mendelssohn and many others. An inspiring week! In July I was at the Ogontz Choral Symposium right close by in Lyman NH with 60 other participants, including our own members Karen Rennar, Shep Holcombe, and Rick Umiker, where we soaked in the joy of working under famed UK choral maestro David Hill. These conferences help us network, learn, grow, which then I can bring to our rehearsals and performances to help all of us learn and grow. I am deeply appreciative to the Board for their support of these professional development opportunities. |
Recruiting Singers for the Fall Semester (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Fri, Aug 16 2024
| White Mountain Voices is gearing up for our fall semester, and we are looking forward to meeting new friends who enjoy learning and performing beautiful music! We are a non-auditioned chorus, and the only requirement is the ability to match pitch. The first two rehearsals, September 9 and 16, are open rehearsals - come join us and give it a try with no strings attached! New members will have the support of a more experienced mentor. |
Holiday Concert 2024 Announced (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Fri, Aug 16 2024
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| This year's winter holiday concert is "A Classical Christmas," presented by White Mountain Voices and White Mountain Youth Voices. The concert will feature the Schubert Mass in G, offerings from Mozart, a musical setting of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", and seasonal carols. Mark your calendars now for 12/21 (Lancaster) and 12/22 (Littleton) for one or both of these matinee (3PM) concerts! Bring your voice for our popular audience sing along! Photo by little plant on Unsplash |
Summer Sing
Date Posted: Tue, Aug 13 2024
Summer Sing 2024: White Mountain Voices gathered at the home of Dick Modie on July 12 for an evening of singing, learning, and enjoying summer's bounty. We worked hard on some repertoire, with a focus on listening to one another and creating a beautiful sound together. Then we enjoyed socializing and sharing a pot luck dinner. Thanks to Victoria for organizing and to Dick for hosting us! |
WMV Strategic Plan Updated (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Tue, Aug 13 2024
| On July 11 the Board of Directors met to review and update the strategic plan for White Mountain Voices. The plan is for ongoing recruitment to grow the number of active singers in both the adult chorus (goal of 40 singers) and the youth chorus (goal of 10-12 singers.) White Mountain Voices plans to continue to offer two yearly performances each year and to add a community singing opportunity/event yearly. The chorus will continue to offer the Choral Scholar program for high school students with a goal of one singer per voice part each semester. Behind the scenes, over the next three years the group looks to improve marketing efforts, pursue grant opportunities, and refine fundraising approaches. |
Spring Pops! Concert Hits a Home Run! (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Tue, Jun 18 2024
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| Audiences in Lancaster and Littleton were delighted with the Spring Pops! matinee concerts in May. The diverse and vocally challenging repertoire was well-received and attendees enthusiastically joined in for some community singing with our national anthem, Shenandoah, and a reprise of Funiculi, Funicula. White Mountain Voices is grateful to our talented instrumentalists, our sponsors, our supporters, and those who came to listen and ended up singing too! |
St. Olaf Welcomes Choral Scholar
Date Posted: Tue, May 7 2024
| This year's choral scholar, Alvah Johnson, is busy wrapping up his senior year at Profile High School. In February he made his Carnegie Hall debut as part of the Honors Performance Series. He says, " Singing at Carnegie Hall amongst some of the best high school talents in the world was an unforgettable experience." After graduation, Alvah is headed to St. Olaf college in Minnesota. "In August I will be off to perfect my craft at the professional level with not only vocal performance, but I will also study music composition or music education." Kudos, Alvah! |
Building a Community of Singers (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Tue, May 7 2024
| The White Mountain Voices Board of Directors met recently in Franconia for a brainstorming session on how to build a better chorus. In the coming months we will continue to reach out to singers, music teachers, other arts organizations, and interested community members to explore ways to encourage a love of singing within the communities we serve. Along with that, we will be looking for ways to help people of all ages learn more about choral music, how to sing, and how to be confident sharing their voices. |
Youth Voices Shine (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Sun, May 5 2024
| White Mountain Youth Voices continues to help young singers develop their choral skills. At their rehearsal last week everyone was excited about the upcoming concert, especially the Neapolitan favorite, "Funiculi, Funicula", which they will be performing with the adult choir. You can also look forward to their fabulous rendition of Do-Re-Mi! Hats off to these singers who are taking time from their busy round of school activities to learn their music and bring joy to the community. |
Chorus Enjoys Stunning Voces8 Concert at Fuller Hall
Date Posted: Tue, Mar 5 2024
 Last night a large group from White Mountain Voices attended the stellar "Draw on Sweet Night" concert presented by Voces8. After meeting for a pizza dinner, the group headed to Fuller Hall in St. Johnsbury. The a capella concert featured music spanning over 500 years with styles ranging from plainsong to swing. The theme of the concert was night, described as "a place inhabited by the moon and stars, by solitude, dreams, fears and prayers" and these various aspects were reflected in the song selections and pairings. WMV President Karen Rennar said that the concert was "a great demonstration of what a choral group can aspire to!" |
Spring Choral Retreat
Date Posted: Fri, Mar 1 2024
 Under the direction of Artistic Director, Victoria Cole and with the flawless accompaniment of Joseph Hansalik, the White Mountain Voices met for their spring retreat on February 23. We spent all day digging deep into the pieces for the "Spring Pops" concert coming up in May. Feeling excited about bringing this program to our North Country audiences! |
Choral Outing Planned for March 4 (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Wed, Feb 7 2024
 White Mountain Voices members are excited about their group outing for a concert by the 2023 Grammy nominated Voces8 ensemble at Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy on March 4. This British group aims to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. The group's performances have been called impeccable, meticulous, perfect, and compelling, with praise for their tone, balance, and controlled harmonies. The Arts Desk critics have praised the group as "the Rolls-Royce of British a capella ensembles." We are looking forward to listening, enjoying, and learning! (photo credit Andy Staples, Voces8.com) |
Youth Voices Surging Into Spring (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Tue, Feb 6 2024
 Building on their strong performance at the winter concert, White Mountain Youth Voices has resumed rehearsals for the spring season. This season 11 children are learning about singing, following the conductor, and musical notation basics. Freya Wheeler, the small angel in last season's Snow Angel production, had this to say about participating in WMYV: " I'm like a river, and music keeps me flowing. White Mountain Youth Voices has strengthened my singing even more." Our organization is very proud of these young singers and thrilled to be bringing the joy of choral music to the next generation. |
"Light Refreshment" on the way for Spring! (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Mon, Feb 5 2024
 Rehearsals are underway for our Spring Pops concert, "Light Refreshment." Selections include some amusing songs about "critters", selections from operas and operettas, jazz favorites, and some Italian popular classics (no mention of the Aerial Tramway, but you'll hear "Funiculi, Funicula!") Mark your calendars for May 18 (Lancaster) and May 19 (Littleton) to be sure you don't miss this fun concert. |
Winter Concerts Enjoyed by Record Numbers (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Sun, Jan 28 2024
 The combined White Mountain Voices and White Mountain Youth Voices presented their "Snow Angel" winter concert to packed houses on December 16 and 17, 2023. The Youth Voices presented 4 numbers including a rousing version of Pat-a Pan accompanied with flute and tambourine. The adult choir showcased Sarah Quartel's "Snow Angel" and other seasonal music. The final number of the concert was the moving call for peace," Ose Shalom," featuring powerful vocals from Lucas Weiss. The audience joined the chorus for some seasonal songs at the close of the concert. |
White Mountain Voices on Parade! (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Thu, Nov 30 2023
 White Mountain Voices and White Mountain Youth Voices had a great time participating in the Littleton Annual Christmas Parade. The parade was held on Friday, November 24. |
It's Not Too Late to Give to the 2023-2024 Campaign (White Mountain Voices, White Mountain Youth Voices)
Date Posted: Fri, Oct 27 2023
 We have had a great response to our 2023-2024 campaign thus far. We hope that you will want to join your friends and neighbors in supporting the outreach and musical excellence of this growing organization! Donations in any amount can be mailed to White Mountain Voices, P.O.Box 172, Littleton, NH 03561, or contact
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Choral Scholar to Appear at Carnegie Hall
Date Posted: Tue, Oct 3 2023
 Congratulations to WMV Choral Scholar Alvah Johnson, who has successfully auditioned for the Honors Performance Series. The Series was established with the goal of distinguishing talented student musicians in a once-in-a-lifetime performance at Carnegie Hall. He will appear on February 11, 2024. |
First 2023-2024 Choral Scholar Announced
Date Posted: Wed, Sep 27 2023
 Alvah Johnson, bass, is the first choral scholar of the 2023-2024 season. He is a senior at Profile High School in Bethlehem, where he sings in the chorus and plays French horn. He was recently was chosen for the National Honors Choir, part of the Honors Performance Series. The Series was established with the goal of distinguishing talented student musicians in a once-in-a-lifetime performance at Carnegie Hall. He will appear on February 11, 2024. |
Artistic Director Attends Ogontz Choral Symposium
Date Posted: Tue, Sep 5 2023
| Artistic Director Victoria Cole enjoyed a week of musical enrichment at the Ogontz Choral Symposium last month. The Symposium was led by world-renowned conductor David Hill and focused on Bach's Mass in B-Minor. |
Choral Scholar Starting Strong at Vassar
Date Posted: Sun, Sep 3 2023
Our Winter 2022 Choral Scholar, Sam Jacobs of Franconia, has auditioned successfully for multiple choral opportunities at Vassar College, including an opportunity to perform in Europe next spring. Congratulations!
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