The choir will present its second Vespers performance on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. at First Lutheran Church. Admission is free, a good-will offering will be taken, and the program will be livestreamed at jpsny.org/acappella. The annual tradition — which also occurred last Sunday — represents just two of nearly 20 performances the A Cappella Choir and its auditioned ensemble, the Madrigal Singers, will present across the community this season.

Those community performances include appearances for the Allen Park Women’s Club, Rotary Club of Jamestown, Connect 55+, the Mozart Club, Heritage Green, and the Marvin House, along with visits to Jefferson and Persell middle schools. The ensemble’s calendar concludes on the last day of school before Winter Recess with two beloved traditions: an all-school assembly performance in the morning and caroling through the halls in the afternoon.

“After a thrilling 100th anniversary of the choir, we are excited to bring the tradition of Vespers into the next century. The choir has been extremely hardworking and are going to put on an incredible concert,” said Lauren Scharf, choir director. “You’ll hear our traditional songs such as ‘Kyrie,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and ‘Fum Fum Fum,’ as well as some new additions.”

The 50-voice A Cappella Choir includes smaller ensembles — the Madrigal Singers, Men of Tomorrow, and Ladies of Today. The choir will be accompanied by Julie Livengood on piano and Brian A. Bogey, director emeritus, on organ. The Madrigal Singers will also perform at a number of special holiday events throughout the Jamestown community.

JHS A Cappella Director Lauren Scharf, left, stands with directors emeritus Norm Lydell (standing) and Brian Bogey (seated) at the choir room’s recently restored Baldwin piano. The refurbishment was made possible by alumni donations during the choir’s centennial school year.

A CENTURY OF CHORAL EXCELLENCE

Established by the ensemble’s founder, Ebba Goranson, in 1924, the Vespers are sacred music concerts performed each December at First Lutheran Church, featuring excerpts from major choral works and seasonal songs and carols to help provide a bit of cheer during the holiday season.

Choral music education has enjoyed a long and distinguished tradition at Jamestown High School, which recently celebrated its remarkable 100th anniversary season. Founding director Ebba Goranson led the ensemble from 1924 until her passing in 1957, followed by Donald B. Bube, who served from 1958-1981. In 1982, Brian A. Bogey became the first alumnus to direct the choir; since retiring in 2003, he has continued to support the program as organist, mentor, and friend. Norman Lydell then guided the ensemble from 2004-2020 and remains an active source of counsel and support.

The choir is coming off a milestone centennial celebration during the 2024-25 school year, highlighted by nearly 400 alumni returning to perform in a special Alumni Vespers last December.

To mark the special occasion, alumni raised funds to refurbish the ensemble’s Baldwin rehearsal piano. Illos Piano Restoration of Buffalo completed the refurbishments over the summer and early fall before returning the piano to the choir room recently.

“We are grateful to the alumni of the choir for their generosity in restoring our beloved Baldwin piano,” said Scharf. “This piano has been central to the work we do in the choir room and is in remarkable shape after the refurbishment. We look forward to making music with it for many, many more years to come.”

STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL

Two members of the choir also represented Jamestown High School at the New York State School Music Association’s Winter Conference All-State Festival from Dec. 4 to 7. Seniors Rya Giuffre and Hayden Langford performed in the festival’s Mixed Chorus among the best student musicians in New York State.

To qualify, the students prepare a NYSSMA Level VI solo which must be selected from repertoire lists in the association’s current manual. Typically, over 6,500 sophomores and juniors from across the state of New York prepare for All-State evaluations in the hope of being selected.

“We are so proud of Rya and Hayden for being accepted into Conference All-State,” Scharf added. “To qualify, students must earn top scores on a Level VI NYSSMA solo and sight singing — the most challenging level — and stand out among hundreds of auditions statewide. This is a wonderful honor and we’re so proud of their work and talent they contribute to our choir.”