Words on Music: The Huntington Choral Society

Patch is talking with groups and individuals performing in the summer arts festival. Here is Mark Mastrocinque answering questions about the Huntington Choral Society, which wiill go on stage Friday night at 8:30.

Question: What kind of music does the group perform? What about tonight's performance?
Answer: This evening’s concert will be choral arrangements of folk songs by Brahms and Vaughan Williams along with a medley of Disney tunes. Q: What is your membership like--who sings with your group? A. Formally organized and incorporated as an independent not-for-profit organization in 1962, the mission of the Huntington Choral Society, Inc. has been to bring the great choral works of the world to the Long Island community. The Society's repertoire includes a variety of works spanning the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Post-Romantic, and Modern eras. We have about 100 members from Nassau and Suffolk counties who love to sing the great choral works. Most of our singers are non-professional but several of our members have professional experience and are music educators. The Huntington Choral Society was founded by Dorothea Waddell Tonnesen, who was its first music director. In 1975, she was succeeded by Andrew Housholder. Today, the chorus is led by an inspired and dedicated music director, Steven Finch, who joined the group in 1984.

 Q.: Are you looking for more members? And what kind of commitment do singers need to make?
A.: We encourage prospective members to come and hear us sing. Open rehearsals are held at Huntington High School at 8:00 PM on the first two Monday nights following Labor Day, in September, and also the first two Monday nights in January, following New Year's Day. Singers are encouraged to join us during these open rehearsals and see if HCS is for you. Those interested in joining should have some ability to sight read music. Acceptance into membership* is by audition. Chorus rehearsals usually take place on Monday nights at 8 p.m. at Huntington High School. Prospective members can register for the auditioni process at the Huntington Choral Society website www.huntingtonchoralsociety.org (click “join”)

Q.: How often/where do you perform during the year?
 A.: The Huntington Choral Society typically performs a winter concert in December and a spring concert in April. Rehearsals for our two major concerts are held starting in September, the first Monday following Labor Day, through April/May. Rehearsals for our summer concert continue until the first week of July.