The Jefferson Township Community Chorus Invites You to Come and Sing!
After a long pandemic related hiatus, The Jefferson Township Community Chorus, sponsored by the Jefferson Arts Committee, will begin its fall/winter rehearsal schedule on Tuesday, September 14 from 7:30 to 9 pm in the Jefferson Township High School Band Room, 1010 Weldon Road, Milton/Oak Ridge under the direction of James Wynne. This will be the Chorus’ first rehearsal for the 2021-2022 season preparing for its Christmas in the Village concert scheduled for Saturday, December 4. Rehearsals will continue Tuesdays at the same time and location unless otherwise notified.
September is the Chorus’ open “Membership Month” so adults, college and high school students are invited to sit in and sing at a September rehearsal with no obligation to join. Membership is open to all residents of Jefferson Township and surrounding communities. Auditions or previous singing experience is not required; and sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses are all welcome. Those who enjoy singing a variety of musical styles are encouraged to join in September for the fall-winter season and February for the winter-spring season.
Chorus dues are $30 for the fall-winter season due by October 15. Dues help fund operating expenses of the group, primarily the cost of purchasing quality copyrighted music and the director’s stipend. Similarly, chorus dues are $30 for the February through June winter-spring season.
James Wynne returns as the Chorus Director/Accompanist with an extensive and impressive background after retiring in 2018 as the Choral Music Director and Instructor of Music Technology at the Jefferson Township High School where he worked since 1983. He is currently the Director of Music and Organist at the Hilltop Presbyterian Church in Mendham and continues to serve as the Music Technology Coordinator and Clinician at the NJ Music Educators In-Service.
A well-respected educator and musician, he earned his B.A. in Music Education at Montclair State, his M.A. in Educational Administration and Supervision from William Paterson University, Graduate Study in Musical Performance-Organ Major from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, and Graduate Study in Music Education from Boston University.
Wynne is anxious to resume working with the Jefferson Township Community Chorus and welcomes back former members and wants to attract new members who love to sing, are looking for a venue to sing with others, enjoy the challenge of learning new musical arrangements, and want to entertain in public.
The Jefferson Township Community Chorus was founded in 2001 and is one of several performing arts groups under the umbrella of the Jefferson Arts Committee. The Chorus has attracted adults and students as well as Jefferson Township High School alumni to its ranks over the years. Some members belong to church choirs and just want to branch out to more secular music while most simply just enjoy singing.
For a brief history of the JTCC, log on to http://jeffersonarts.org/chorus_about.html The Chorus also presents a spring concert at a local church and are oftentimes involved in other special events and/or fundraisers. Through the years, they have sung traditional folk songs, Broadway show tunes, sacred music, ethnic tunes, popular songs, and classical music.
The Chorus has tackled some challenging pieces and exceeded even their own expectations! Anyone interested in joining the Chorus can contact Chorus member Teresa Fontana at 973-479-5789 for more information or e-mail her at fontana.tess@gmail.com The upcoming chorus season will be an exciting and melodious one in Jefferson Township – be part of it!
