By David Dunbar

Over the past four decades, the Charles River Chorale has been providing widely acclaimed performances for members and attendees in area towns including Bellingham, Franklin, Holliston, Millis, Medway, Norfolk, and Wrentham. The group is based in Millis. 

The Charles River Chorale is celebrating its 40 years and currently has more than 90 members. It’s a non-profit organization, led by Board Chair Robert Archibald, Director Ashley Nelson-Oneschuk, Assistant Director Susan Fortin, and a board of directors.

“It has been an amazing 40 years,” notes Archibald. “We are bound together by a love of singing.”

And that they are. There are two major performances each year, one in December with a holiday theme; and one in the spring. This past May, the concert entitled “Road Trip Across America” offered songs and styles from many regions of the country.

To prepare, there will be 13 rehearsals between Sept. 17 and Dec. 6 on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. The first three are “open” and folks who want to know more about the Charles River Chorale, or perhaps want to join it, can get better acquainted. [see sidebar for more information]

“It is an honor to be the director of this amazing organization, especially on a milestone anniversary,” explains Nelson-Oneschuk. “Congratulations to every member and supporter, past and present.”

She continues, “Whether I’m working with 10 singers or 100, I always strive to keep everyone engaged, challenged, successful, and laughing. Happy people have a much better chance at creating beautiful music and wonderful experiences.” 

Current members range in age from 15 to 83 (Jeanne Johnson cheerfully admits to being the oldest).

Jean Lynch, a 20-year member and singer, says, “Ashley is extremely talented, super organized, beautiful, young mother and has a super-human ability with music.”

“We have members from nearly 20 communities in the Charles River valley and beyond,” according to Board Chair Archibald. “We have been rehearsing and singing at the Church of Christ, Congregational, in Millis for all of our 40 years.” The winter and spring concerts are held at Medway High School. Tickets for adults are $20 each; seniors and students are $15; and five years and under are free.

“The Millis Chorale began in 1975 as the Bicentennial Chorus with concerts in Millis, Washington D.C., and at the Eastern States Expo in Springfield,” according to Jeanne Seyfarth, an original member.

Archibald adds, “The group disbanded after the Bicentennial and continued to sing as a church choir at Church of Christ in Millis. In 1985, the group was revived under Roy Kelley to draw in members from Millis who were not members of the church. That group became the Millis Community Chorale in 1985. As we chose to expand beyond Millis to the Charles River Basin in 2000, we changed our name to the Charles River Chorale.”

Roy has been described as a “showman,” and has since passed away. Ashley, who took over as director 10 years ago, has been described as a “storyteller.”

Seyfarth continues, “All of the music that has been chosen for us has been challenging. I plan to continue singing until I am unable to sing anymore!”

There were moments during the COVID pandemic when many thought they would be unable to sing anymore. Some concerts and rehearsals were cancelled, and some were moved to a virtual presentation “so we could continue to perform,” says Archibald.

“We finished the pandemic with zero dollars in the bank and 22 members,” recalls Meg Quilop, a 13-year member. Membership and attendance have continued to grow post-pandemic with 350 people attending the last concert, 90+ members now, and the bank account is no longer at zero.  

Quilop also mentioned some relatively new programs including a Children’s Choir, scholarships for music students, and the “Sunshine Committee” that promotes a feeling of closeness among members and organizes birthday celebrations.

Lynch observes that “many people are looking to do something for themselves. Singing can help people become friends.”

One dictionary defines music as “an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.” It should have included a picture of the Charles River Chorale next to it.

Discover more at www.charlesriverchorale.com