The Franklin County Community Chorus will raise its voices together in song and welcome in the holiday season when it holds its annual winter concert on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 3 p.m. at the Greenfield High School. The chorus will deliver a program of holiday favorites alongside Gregorian chants, pop, and show tunes. The chorus will be accompanied by piano, flute, cello, and the jam band.

The group has been working hard, rehearsing for hours every Sunday since September as they prepare for this big day, which will be a culmination of their dedication and passion. For the singers, it is all about the joy of singing and the sense of community they experience as part of this very special chorus.

The community chorus was founded in 2013 by Paul Calcari of Greenfield, who had been head of the music department at Greenfield High School for 27 years before retiring the year the chorus began.

Calcari, whom his students affectionately refer to as Mr. C., was a popular teacher who developed some strong bonds with his students, many of whom he worked with throughout their high school years. Former students, like Elvis tribute artist Travis LeDoyt and Broadway singer Kevin Duda, share a deep admiration for Calcari and credit his teaching and encouragement with their success in the entertainment world.

Over the years, a number of his former students would ask for an alumni concert, but Calcari was always so busy with his current students that he couldn’t honor their request.

But when it came time for him to retire, the time was finally right for such an event.

“I figured that it was now or never,” recalled Calcari. “Students came from literally all across the country. There were hundreds of former students, some from decades ago, who came to perform together again. The concert included my last class of GHS music students. It was truly a wonderful event, one I will never forget!”

For the alumni who participated, it was equally a night not to forget. Those who were locally based encouraged Calcari to continue the concerts, and that was the beginning of the Franklin County Community Chorus.

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“The resulting Franklin County Community Chorus was an attempt to give those alumni and the local public a quality musical outlet needed in the area,” said Calcari.

From the start, the chorus has been open to all ages, and no singing experience is required. It currently has 65 members, ranging in ages from 20 to 85. The singers come from Greenfield and surrounding towns.

Chorus members credit Calcari with making the chorus a great experience, nurturing their talents, and helping them become the best singers they can be.

“One of the things that is kind of amazing about this group is the number of people that had Paul as a director when they were high school students and still want to sing with him all these years later,” said chorus member Tamara Grogan of Greenfield. “The result is people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, who all had the same experience at some point. It creates a really powerful sense of community.”

Karlena Henry of Greenfield is one of those former students and agrees with Grogan about the sense of the community the chorus holds.

“Throughout high school, Mr. C recognized me, and without his support, I am pretty sure I wouldn’t have graduated,” said Henry. “When he was preparing to retire in 2013, I flew across the country to sing in the Alumni Chorus. During the 10-plus years he’s been conducting the Franklin County Community Chorus, I have grown in confidence and skill. And I love the opportunity to continue to grow musically and build up old and new friendships.”

Staci Miner of Greenfield also fondly remembers being a student of Calcari and how he made every student feel they had a place where they belonged.

“He believed that the joy of singing is for everyone, not just the superstars,” Miner said. “He brought these same attributes when he started the chorus. I love being part of something that embraces everyone regardless of ability or age. I love that we prove with every concert how beautiful music can be when performed just for its joy.”

Grogan and a friend attended a Franklin County Community Chorus show a couple of years ago and that’s when she knew she wanted to be part of this.

“We were so carried away and impressed,” she recalled. “We looked at each other when it ended and said, ‘Wow, guess we’ve got to do this!’” And she did.

The concert is sure to lift your holiday spirits and just might inspire your own desire to join the group and sing.

“I love being involved with such a talented and motivated group! We are a non-audition group that is always looking for new members,” said Calcari. “We present two major concerts a year – a Holiday Concert and a Spring Concert as well as various smaller performances throughout the area. The best part of the Franklin County Community Chorus is the people. They really enjoy getting together and making great music.”

If you are interested in joining the chorus, visit franklincountycommunitychorus.weebly.com.

Tickets are available at the door and are $15 for adults, and $10 for seniors and children under 12.

She Said will bring their rocking music to Hawks & Reed in Greenfield on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. The group has been around since 2016 and plays original music that blends blues, rock, jazz and country.

The show on Friday night will be an extra special one as they extend their lineup with some special guests: Doug Hegeman on drums and Paige Riddering on clarinet. Regular band member Gail Hegeman will shift from drums to rhythm guitar and backup vocals. The rest of the band remains the same with Eileen Almedia on vocals and percussion, Michael Duffey (of the River Benders) will be on lap and pedal steel, and Tanya Bryant on lead guitar, harmonica and vocals.

But that’s only part of what makes this show extra special. This will be the last show they perform as She Said as they are dropping that name and evolving into Psychedelic Farmgirls.

“We feel the need for fresh post-pandemic energy!” wrote Tanya Bryant in a recent email exchange. “She Said began in 2016 and we feel it has run its course. As a result, we will be transforming into Psychedelic Farmgirls.”

She went onto say that Psychedelic Farmgirls will continue to perform most of She Said’s original songs along with other new originals. In addition, the group will add some of their favorite cover tunes and interpret them in their unique style.

So head to Hawks & Reed for this special show of She Said and look for Psychedelic Farmgirls to emerge in early 2025.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show. They are available at hawksandreed.com.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.