NORTH READING — Music is in the air as the Ipswich River Community Chorus (IRCC) is in the final week of rehearsals for its upcoming 40th Anniversary Concert. The concert will be held this Sunday, May 18 at Wilmington High School, 159 Church St., Wilmington, from 4-6 p.m.
Ask anyone in this 80-member North Reading-based chorus the secret to their longevity and you’ll get a lot of the same answers: A love of music and singing, the satisfaction that comes from making music together, and a passion for performing. By far though, the most common thread running through the group is the strength of the community.
“As we’ve evolved over the years, it’s the friendships that people have made that keep them coming back year after year,” said Don Putney, of North Reading, who has been with the chorus since its inception as the North Reading Community Chorale. “It’s also a tribute to the conductors we’ve had, because they’ve consistently put together programs that our members want to sing,” he said.
This year, the chorus is welcoming back past conductors as they revisit some of their favorite pieces, including “Another Op’nin, Another Show,” “Danny Boy,” “No One is Alone,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “What a Wonderful World,” plus a medley from “West Side Story” and more.
“I like the variety of music that we’re performing,” said Thomas Reed, who joined IRCC in the fall of 2024. “It’s not just classical, but a mix of Broadway, folk, jazz, spirituals, global and popular pieces.” Reed will be performing a solo titled “Baba Yetu,” a Swahili rendition of the Lord’s Prayer.
“I think what makes the chorus special is the amount of people experiencing so much joy from week to week,” said Artistic Director Katherine Foley, who is also a North Reading resident. “A lot of people have come back to singing after a long break. They may have sung in high school or college, and this group is a great way to experience it again.”
Foley brings a lifetime of experience both singing and teaching to her role. Since 2000, she has been singing with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops.
Founding conductor Nancy Ferretti, of North Reading, is still performing with the chorus today. She has seen the chorus grow and change through the years. “The friendships made and programs we’ve done bring us together,” she remarked, adding, “We’ve had some wonderful conductors, including our director today. Katherine’s sense of humor makes it fun, but she’s also an educator. She teaches us all to be better singers.”
The concert features longtime accompanist Miles Goldberg plus additional special guest conductors John Adams, Peter Ghiloni and Johnny Nichols Jr.
To purchase tickets for the 40th Anniversary Concert in advance go to TicketLeap: ipswich-river-community-chorus.ticketleap.com or visit ipswichrivercommunitychorus.org.
Tickets will also be available at the door. Prices are $20 for adults and $15 for ages 6-18; children 5 and under are free. The concert is made possible, in part, by grants from the North Reading, Reading, Tewksbury and Wilmington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.