Wintersongs fills aud, spans generations / By Martha Knight

A Review

Vocal music is considered a major sport in the Port Allegany school system, that is a given. Vocal music instructors and directors Ken and Annamaria Myers have seen to that.

From when the distaff Myers gets youngsters singing and performing in elementary school to when they are handed off, well prepared for the expert and demanding direction of her husband, these young singers have learned to respect the process and strive for excellence.

The community has come to expect outstanding performances at vocal music events in their auditorium, such as the annual Wintersongs concert. This year’s version, presented Friday and Saturday nights, lived up to expectations. The aud more than filled its 700 seats.

But this year’s event had an added dimension, and maybe two extra generations.

Gloria Richardson and her North Country Voices, mostly Potter County adults, and Ken Myers came up with a project that had her ensemble and his high school chorus collaborating, first at rehearsals and then in concert. (It probably did not hurt that Richardson and Gary Buchsen, Port Allegany’s school superintendent, are cousins.) A bonus for Port Allegany was that Richardson accompanied several numbers, and North Country’s accompanist Anne McCleary also provided support at the piano.

As Ken Myers told this reviewer, he considered the opportunity to blend his high schoolers with adults, including another kind of “seniors,” a “teachable moment.”

North Country Voices themselves have a wide age-span, with members in their 30s to some in their 80s. Like Port Allegany music department groups, the North Country members strive for excellence, and accept the demands of careful, no-nonsense rehearsal and precise direction.

What Ken Myers hoped the student singers would internalize, as they worked with the seasoned singers of North Country, was an understanding that this is a “sport” people do not outgrow. It need not be left behind after high school or college. Singing can be enjoyed throughout life. And singing in groups has its pleasures, for the participants and for listeners, year after year.

It was clear that the youths enjoyed the numbers that included the singers old enough to be their parents and grandparents. They respected the older vocalists’ experience and expertise in their individual number, and in their collaborations on the Handel “Antiphonal Alleluia,” the “Canticle of Carols” and final, all-groups numbers.

Annamaria Myers’ Elementary Ensemble, Fourth Grade Chorus, and Fifth and Sixth Grade Chorus showed their stuff in numbers ranging from serious to comical. They had worked hard, judging from the precision of their motions. Even the youngest give full attention to their director’s every gesture, step and facial expression, responding in amazing unison.

Junior High Chorus numbers were the same only more so, as to precision. A mellow euphonium part in “Under Winter Moon” was provided by Andrew Rosenswie.

Brass came through again in “Canticle of Carols,” with North Country Voices, the Senior High Choir and trumpets Charles Kysor, Adam Koehler, and Matthew Causer, joined by instrumental music instructor/band director Brad Stewart on trombone.

After all the voices from youngest to  oldest combined for the candle-lit “Silent Night,” then “Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain,” at the end of the concert, the audience sat immobile for a moment, before rising as one to applaud and cheer for the roughly 250 students and the adults as well.

Chamber Singers demonstrated the superb poise, vocal sound and training that gets them invitations to distant venues, year after the year. This year’s invitation will take them to Carnegie Hall next month.

An audience member was heard to say, “I hope they have North Country Voices again. Maybe I’ll try out for the group.”

How did the “guest” ensemble feel about it? Said one North Country member, “These kids are wonderful! Beautiful! Makes me wish I was back in high school. If it had a music department like this one…”