Ridgewood Choral Celebrates 95 Years, Welcomes New Director

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A Ridgewood women's chorus is celebrating 95 years in a spring concert, as the musicians welcome a new director into the fold.

Founded in 1928, the Ridgewood Choral is holding the annual concert at a Christian church on April 22, and will perform under the direction of local music teacher Leslie Mac Pherson.

At 7:30 p.m. at West Side Presbyterian Church, these women, ranging in age from 40 to 80, are presenting its main event under director Mac Pherson — successor to Marjorie Vandervoort, who retired in 2022 after more than two decades with the chorus.

"So much growth in so many areas," Vandervoort said at last year's spring concert, her final gig. "28 years of fulfillment working with you."

This year's program, the chorus said, will feature contemporarily arranged sacred pieces, complimented with flute, French Horn and percussion. Dress for the concert is pastel gowns — a tradition since the chorus' founding.

Poetry will be highlighted in pieces that are composed for the chorus by former students of the conductor — Sungpil Edwin Kim and Ian Wiese. The concert — for which the chorus has practiced since early January — will end with a selection of folk songs.

Award-winning high school musicians Lucas Wong and Tyler Kriney will also perform at the concert. Bassoonist Wang, of Ridgewood, won an award for excellence in vocal or instrumental performance. Baritonist Kriney, of Ringwood, won a vocal award.

Susan LaFever, music director of The Ridgewood Singers at First Presbyterian Church, will play piano for the choral. A multi-instrumentalist, she will also accompany the choral on French horn.

Tickets are available from chorus members for $25 and will also be available at the door on the day of the performance for $30.00 cash or check.