GREENFIELD — This year’s Eventide Singers concert is dedicated to a Greenfield resident who played a crucial role in the a cappella group’s creation: co-founder John Bos, who died in December at 88 years old.

Since October 2007, volunteers with the Eventide Singers have offered free bedside and home singing services meant to comfort sick, homebound or dying individuals and their families, facilitating the group’s main mission to ease the end-of-life journey.

Bos was inspired to create the group after visiting a friend who was dying of cancer. He had heard about a group in Montpelier, Vermont, that sang to the sick and dying, and found himself wishing a group like that was available to bring comfort to his friend.

Moved by the concept, Bos decided to enlist the help of former hospice nurse Mary Schreiber to create the Eventide Singers. The core group of 21 a cappella singers held its first rehearsal soon after.

Over the course of 18 years, the group has been growing steadily in terms of engagements and members. According to Music Director Joe Toritto, the Eventide Singers played 80 engagements in 2024. Other than private sessions, the group regularly performs at various assisted living and hospice centers across the Pioneer Valley, including Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, RegalCare at Greenfield, Charlene Manor Extended Care, The Arbors at Greenfield, Greenfield Rehabilitation and Nursing, Rockridge Retirement Community and Linda Manor.

This year’s concert will take place on Sunday, March 23, at 3 p.m. at Greenfield’s Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square, and will consist of a 19-song set list curated by Toritto. The lineup of songs includes hits by Leonard Cohen, Harry Chapin and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, as well as sacred chants and hymns written by local composer Judith Williams. The singers will also perform renditions of some of Bos’ favorite songs, such as “Crossing the Bar” by Rani Arbo.

“The songs we’ll do are reflective of the kind of music we do when we go to nursing homes and hospitals,” Toritto noted.

The group rehearses regularly at the Second Congregational Church and normally does not perform concerts, but holds the annual concert to raise money for the church.

“We don’t do concerts,” Toritto explained, “but we do this once a year as a thank you to the church for giving us free rental space.”

Although tickets will not be sold for the concert, the group encourages a $15 donation upon admission. All proceeds benefit the church.

The concert will also feature two guest speakers who will share memories of Bos. Winnie Ganshaw, Bos’ sister, will speak first, followed by Pam Roberts, Bos’ longtime friend and a member of his writing group. Bos was also known for his biweekly column in the Greenfield Recorder, called Connecting the Dots.

More information about the event can be found at eventidesingers.com.