'I’m proud of these people': Duxbury's Snug Harbor Community Chorus celebrates 25 years

Hongyu Liu, The Patriot Ledger
·3 min read

DUXBURY – On a calm Monday night, the words of Josef Haydn's "The Heavens Are Telling" could be heard drifting through the doors of the Duxbury Performing Arts Center.

"The wonder of his work displays the firmament," sang a group of about 50 members of the Snug Harbor Community Chorus.

"Remember, this piece was written in the Classical period," Randy McGee, the chorus director, said. "So everything comes with a rhythm."

The members of the chorus are practicing hard each week to prepare for a 25th anniversary concert titled "Reaching for Hope: 25 Years and Still Going Strong!"

The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. A matinee performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at the United Church of Christ in Norwell.

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Saturday's performance will be the group's first maskless indoor concert since the pandemic began.

Laurie Gibbons, of Duxbury, joins other members of the Snug Harbor Community Chorus rehearsing for their upcoming 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.
Laurie Gibbons, of Duxbury, joins other members of the Snug Harbor Community Chorus rehearsing for their upcoming 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.

“I hadn’t thought it was 25 years until someone said something about it," Jody Hall, of Duxbury, one of the group's earliest members, said. "We just kept going.”

Snug Harbor is a nonprofit community chorus that was formed in 1998. Most of the early members came from a local church chorus in Duxbury.

The chorus now has almost 100 members from all over the South Shore, and its spring and winter performances have become a tradition for local families.

“I enjoy the experience of singing with a group," said Ann Mickells, of Duxbury, a member of the group for 25 years. "Each of our three directors is very different in terms of their style and choice for music.”

Snug Harbor Community Chorus members Ken Sennott, of Middleboro, left, and Caroline Nowak, of Norwell, right, rehearse for their 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.
Snug Harbor Community Chorus members Ken Sennott, of Middleboro, left, and Caroline Nowak, of Norwell, right, rehearse for their 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.

McGee joined the chorus in 2017. Mickells and Hall described him as an academic instructor, and said he taught them the technique during rehearsals.

When he rehearsed with the chorus for the first time five years ago, he asked the sopranos to sing. Then he told them that he had good news and bad news.

"The bad news was that it was the worst I had ever heard," he said. "But the good news is that you all look fabulous."

The classic joke worked perfectly as they laughed and begin working on their issues together.

“I’m proud of the improvement of the chorus since I took over,” he said.

Two original members of the Snug Harbor Community Chorus, Ann Mickells, left, and Jody Hall, both of Duxbury, rehearse for their upcoming 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.
Two original members of the Snug Harbor Community Chorus, Ann Mickells, left, and Jody Hall, both of Duxbury, rehearse for their upcoming 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.

The chorus will perform nine pieces of music at the Saturday show, all with different styles.

Mary Brady, of Plymouth, one of the members, said the highlight of the show is "The Gettysburg Address" by American composer Mark Hayes.

“It’s the most powerful piece,” she said.

Snug Harbor Community Chorus members, from left, Julie Oliver, of Plymouth; Jody Mathewson, of Plymouth; and Paula Fisher, of Kingston, rehearse for their upcoming 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.
Snug Harbor Community Chorus members, from left, Julie Oliver, of Plymouth; Jody Mathewson, of Plymouth; and Paula Fisher, of Kingston, rehearse for their upcoming 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.

McGee said he combined a few of the old songs the chorus has performed with new ones.

"It just turned out most of these pieces have a strong theme of hope," he said. "It is so oddly timed at what is happening in Ukraine.”

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He said he hopes the audiences can have an "uplifting" experience throughout the performance, and find hope and togetherness regarding recent events.

“I’m proud of these people. They work hard and they have given me their trust," McGee said. "I’m not sure if I have said it enough to them.”

Snug Harbor Community Chorus members Walter Hempel, left, and Fred Boericke, both of Duxbury, rehearse for their upcoming 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.
Snug Harbor Community Chorus members Walter Hempel, left, and Fred Boericke, both of Duxbury, rehearse for their upcoming 25th anniversary concert at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Monday, May 3, 2022.

During the performance, the chorus will award the $1,000 Roy S. Kelley scholarship to Catrina Riker, 17, of Hingham. Riker is a voice student of Beth MacLeod at South Shore Conservatory of Music.

The scholarship is offered twice per year, recognizing an exceptional high school student who will continue their education in music. Riker will perform a solo at the concert.

Tickets to the concerts are $15 and free for children 10 years old and younger. To purchase them, visit snugharborcc.org.

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Reach Hongyu Liu at HLiu@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Snug Harbor Community Chorus prepares for 25th anniversary concert