We are a 70-member non-auditioned, SATB adult community chorus located in Pennington, New Jersey. We perform locally three times a year and participate in a variety of community outreach activities. Our repertoire spans the globe and includes genres from Early Renaissance, Baroque, Classic/Romantic, 20th Century, Jazz, Blues, Pops, Gospel, and new compositions based on American poetry.
At our two annual concerts, we perform the works of major composers spanning all musical genres, while introducing new works and arrangements. For the past two years, an ensemble of Chorus members has performed at Carnegie Hall as part of the auditioned 250-voice Masterwork Festival Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Bruce Chamberlain. In June 2019, we performed the Schumann Requiem, Op. 148, conducted by our very own Heather Mitchell, DMA, artistic director, now in her 4th season with the chorus. In March 2020, we will have a large representation of singers back at Carnegie Hall to sing the Faure Requiem with the Masterwork Festival Chorus.
Now in our 60th year, we have grown phenomenally, serving over the decades as a musical home to more than 900 singers. We count more than 70 members---from Mercer, Hunterdon, Burlington, and Middlesex counties, in New Jersey, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. But the philosophy of the founders remains the same: to provide those who love to sing with the opportunity to learn and perform a variety of exceptional music under professional directorship. As always, auditions are not required.
The chorus’s tradition of community service continues to evolve. Established in 1973, the Hopewell Valley Chorus Scholarship—now $1,000—is annually awarded to a musically gifted, graduating high school senior who lives in the Hopewell Valley and plans to continue to be musically active, lifelong.
Since 2000, the chorus has hosted Spring into Song. At this annual, multi-group, free concert, the chorus is joined by other local singing groups to perform in support and celebration of the Trenton Children’s Chorus (TCC). Through contributions, Spring into Song has raised more than $55,000, sending 55 happy and grateful TCC singers to top summer music programs.
You should join if you love to sing great music from all eras in a variety of styles and languages. We are an informal, welcoming group (no auditions!) that is growing phenomenally under the leadership of of Dr. Heather Mitchell. You should join if you believe that a community chorus's mission extends beyond learning and performing music to ensuring that others share the pleasure of hearing great music and that young people are given opportunities to grow as chorus singers and leaders.
Additional Info for Choristers
We start off each season (September-December and January-May) with two open rehearsals, where interested members may sit in with us, get a taste of the new repertoire, and meet our professionals and members Dues are $50 per season. We depend on our fellow members to volunteer as frequently as possible in any number of roles from staffing our community day booths, to singing in other settings such as the Pennington Holiday Walk, helping with rehearsal and concert set-up and clean up, selling concert tickets, distributing promotional materials, and assisting in our annual appeal, and supporting board members in their work.
Our Mission
To provide opportunities for our members to experience the joy of choral music and to share that experience with others in our community.