Are you looking for choral experience in a community of welcoming, inclusive, respectful, collegial, and talented vocalists? Do you value high artistic standards? Welcome to Assabet Valley Mastersingers (AVM). Please come join us for our Open Rehearsal on Monday, March 17, 7:30–9:45 pm, for our concert in May which will feature two large works by contemporary composers Ola Gjeilo and Elaine Hagenberg, as well as two shorter works by Christopher Tin and Jake Runestad.

Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. and are held at First Congregational Church, 19 Church Street, Shrewsbury, MA. Vocalists (18+) are welcome to join an AVM Open Rehearsal to experience a regular session and learn more about the group. Come early so that you can meet section leaders and borrow music for the rehearsal. College students and high school juniors or seniors are welcome to attend open rehearsals and participate through our pre-membership programs mentioned below.

If, after the Open Rehearsal, you would like to continue with the group, please let the Membership Chair know because an audition is required to join AVM whether this be as a member, or as a participant in one of our student programs. For the AVM audition, prepare to sing a piece that will give the Artistic Director a sense of your vocal characteristics. The meeting with the Artistic Director will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time, generally prior to a Monday rehearsal.

We believe singing fosters an environment of fun, joy, and worth. While vocal training is not essential basic musicianship, a good musical ear, dedication, and a love for the choral classics are must-haves for AVM vocalists. If you or someone you know would like to join us or have questions, feel free to direct them to the AVM Membership Chair at membership@avmsingers.org.

High School Juniors and Seniors, please look at the AVM Apprentice Singer Program, and College Students please look at the AVM Collegiate Vocalist Program. The Sing with Us Page of our website has links to each of them.

About the "Come Together" concert

Location: 1LT Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School
25 Union Street
Marlborough, MA 01752

Two very popular contemporary works, Ola Gjeilo’s “Sunrise Mass” and Elaine Hagenberg’s “Illuminare” will be framed by two shorter works with strong societal messages. Christopher Tin’s “Walayo Yamoni,” sung in Swahili, an uplifting setting of a Lango rainmaking prayer will begin the program. Jake Runestad’s “We Can Mend the Sky” is a poignant setting of poetry by a 14-year-old Somali immigrant that expresses an affirmation of hope. The works will feature a chorus, soloists, and an orchestra.

About AVM

AVM, which was founded in 1978 by Artistic Director Dr. Robert P. Eaton, is a regional chorus with performances in Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough, Southborough, and Marlborough, Massachusetts. Our mission is dedicated to performance excellence and innovative programming. Local talented vocalists and instrumentalists perform celebrated choral masterworks, lesser-known masterworks, and commissioned works.