Ellwood City Area Civic Chorale celebrates 70 years

ELLWOOD CITY ― On Sunday, the Ellwood City Area Civic Chorale will be celebrating 70 years of singing for the community.

For the secular section of the program, director Joyce Turner-Gindlesperger decided to feature songs that were popular in 1954 when the chorale was created. It was the era of rock, pop and rhythm and blues.

The public is invited to enjoy “Sh-boom, Sh-boom” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and many other timeless favorites. For the sacred section of the concert, they will be singing sacred songs that are chorale favorites.

Turner-Gindlesperger, who has been a member since 1980, said they are very grateful for so many years of community support.

“It’s amazing how many years we have been making music together. It truly is a family,” she said.

The Patron Concert, a highlight of the year, is always at 7 p.m. on Mother’s Day at the Trinity Lutheran Church. It is a thank you in song for the support they receive from the community. The unique group of 35 devoted members lives up to their motto "Sit back and let us entertain you through our love of song."

In 1954, the Ellwood City Area Civic Chorale was organized by Lincoln High School choir teacher Paul Gehm with graduates of Ellwood City's Lincoln High School choral department.

With this history in mind, the chorale reached out to students in the Lincoln High School choirs.

Longtime member Pete Kucan said they invited students to join the chorale to experience vocal and musical excellence.

“It will also be good on their college resumes and it is community service as the chorale sings for the Memorial Day programs in Koppel and Ellwood City,” he said.

In 2023, his senior year, Hayden Slade was the first student to join the chorale and others have followed.

Currently, Peyton Confer, a sophomore at Lincoln High School, is singing with the chorale and enjoying the experience.

“Being in the chorale is helping me to mature as a singer and pushes me to do my best. It is also great because they are so welcoming, so friendly and make me feel like family,” Confer said.

The chorale performs two one-hour-long programs per year, Christmas and spring season, at a variety of venues.

In addition, the chorale is visible enhancing community life by being the choral support of the annual Boars Head Festival at Christ Presbyterian Church.

“This translates to the chorale membership volunteering nearly 56 rehearsal hours per year per member with the total time reaching nearly 2000 volunteer hours for the entire chorale. The total years of service for the current membership exceeds 500 years,” Kucan said.

The Trinity Lutheran Church is the chorale's home, where they rehearse and store their materials and equipment.

What: Civic Chorale’s Patron Concert

Where: Trinity Lutheran Church, 207 Spring Ave.

When: 7 p.m. May 12

Admission: Free

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Ellwood City chorale plans 70th anniversary concert