Quoddy Voices: People, Places and Spring!

The Eastport-based choral group Quoddy Voices will give an eclectic concert, "People, Places, and Spring”, on Friday, May 3 at 7 pm, and Sunday, May 5, at 3 pm, at Eastport Arts Center.

Founded by John Newell, Quoddy Voices is now directed by Gene Nichols, who formerly taught at the University of Maine at Machias and led the Machias Community Chorale. Jane Lanctot, a Lubec resident, is the stalwart accompanist.  Eastporter Brian Schuth is guest musician for the concert, on clarinet, bass clarinet, and soprano recorder.

The program kicks off with "Geographical Fugue," a piece for speaking chorus, and proceeds to visit the lands of Wales, Quoddy Bay, Mt. Ktaadn, Cambodia, Denmark, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Ireland, and the imaginary land of Spira (setting of the 2001 video game "Final Fantasy X”). People visited include: King George II, the feisty Jenny Jenkins, and members of Quoddy Voices.

Spring will be celebrated by Moondog, Luca Marenzio, Albert von Tilzer, and Machias's own Karen Pennell, whose "Cinco de Mayo" will be heard on that very day. Other prominent composers featured are: Handel, Sibelius, Uematsu, Pete Seeger, the late P.D.Q. Bach, Chopin, Jobim, John Rutter, Graham Nash, James Taylor, John Newell, and Nichols himself.

Newell's setting of excerpts from Thoreau's journal about his trip to Mt. Katahdin ("Ktaadn") is a highlight of the program.

Quoddy Voices soloists include: Manuela Brice, Jenny Z. Gillies, Ray Fluke, Kayla Heckart, Stephanie Higgins, Bill Johnson, Ed Jordan, Lauren Koss, Kris Paprocki, Jon Ramsdell, Ken Warner, Rosalie Woodward, accompanist Lanctot, and Nichols.

Tickets for the Quoddy Voices concerts are $15; attendees 17 and under will be admitted free of charge; no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Quoddy Voices welcomes all singers, and does not require an audition. The group will resume rehearsal in preparation for fall concerts in September. Inquiries about the group may be made to Nichols at gnichols@maine.edu.

Eastport Arts Center is at 36 Washington Street, Eastport, and at www.eastportartscenter.org, and is handicapped-accessible. EAC abides by the State of Maine CDC COVID guidelines, revisiting our policy monthly. At this time, the use of masks in our building is optional.