January 22, 2024 Submitted by The Hingham Singers
The Hingham Singers will host its winter concert “Songs from the Hearth” on Saturday, January 27 at 7:00pm at Hingham’s Congregational Church. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the door.
The Hingham Singers is a dedicated mixed choral ensemble that sings music ranging from traditional classical choir works to more contemporary songs. The origins of the Hingham Singers has its roots in the history of Hingham, when Dr. Paul K Cappers formed a small ensemble of talented singers to perform at Hingham’s 375th Anniversary Celebration in 2010. Dr. Cappers, who may be best known in Hingham from his 17 years as Hingham High School’s (HHS) Choral Director and Music Department Head, then started an audition-only group to keep the members singing. He also recruited many of his former HHS students to be members. Although it’s not a requirement to be from Hingham to sing in the Hingham Singers, over 50% of the current choir are proud graduates of Hingham High School.
For example, Nicole (Cavallo) Gudmond and Julie (Hunt) Rohlfing began singing for Dr. Cappers in elementary school and jumped at the chance to sing in a choir again as an adult. “I remembered how much I loved singing!” states Gudmond, “Not only has the Hingham Singers become a positive outlet for myself, the group has become a family to me.”
In addition to Hingham High School alumni, Julie (Hunt) Rohlfing (HHS 1997) and Nicole (Cavallo) Gudmon (HHS 1999), other HHS Alumni Hingham Singers include; Steve Waynman (HHS 1966), Karen Green (HHS 1975), Carolyn (Bacon) Antoine (HHS 1976), Patty (Gilbert) McDonald (HHS 1991), Jon Michaels (HHS 1992), Todd Merritt (HHS 1995), Nicole (Katsilieris) Lovett (HHS 1999) and Cassandra (Katsilieris) Cellucci (HHS 2008). This year the Hingham Singers are proud to add our Corporate Sponsor, Leon Marian (HHS 1986) to our growing Hingham Singers HHS Alumni collage below:
Last spring Dr. Cappers retired as the Music Director of the Hingham Singers and current and past members of the Hingham Singers were fortunate to enlist the talents of David Wanner to prepare a small program of songs for a send off celebration for Dr. Paul and Janet Cappers. Similar to Dr. Cappers, David Wanner has an impressive music composition and choral conducting background. David instantly cliqued with the Hingham Singers members and composed a special choral arrangement of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” for the ensemble to sing at the event. “It was an exceptional night of music and a beautiful send off for Dr. Cappers and Janet,” said Hingham Singers Board President Patty Gilbert McDonald, “It was also fun to see Dr. Cappers pass the music director torch over to David!”
This fall David Wanner officially began as Music Director of the 2023-2024 Hingham Singers Season. “It has been really fun to come every week and make music”, states Wanner, “it’s amazing to see what this group has accomplished in four months and it’s been a real treat for me professionally.”
In addition to making beautiful music together, the Hingham Singers have built a sense of community amongst its members. Jeff Mailhot joined the Hingham Singers last year and states, “I would say that some of my closest friends I have made since moving to Hingham are in this group.” Jon Michaels echoes Mailhot’s sentiment,“I feel like I am part of a bigger thing and it’s a lot of fun.”
This fall Hingham Singers recruited new members from the community such as Mary Holleran and Lakshmi Hobson who were both looking for an opportunity to sing again in a choir. Mary Holleran said, “ I had been looking to resurface my childhood hobbies by singing in this group!” And Hobson believes the Hingham Singers, “has brought out my passion for singing that was hidden away for so long.” Ryan McLean summarizes this sense of community best and states, “I love the people, I love the songs we sing and I love going to the Snug!” where you will likely see the group congregate after rehearsal every Tuesday night.
The Hingham Singers also strives to give back to the Town of Hingham and has a long standing partnership with The Hingham Center for Active Living who generously donates their space for the Hingham singers to rehearse on Tuesday evenings. Most recently the Hingham Singers volunteered their talents for the Center for Active Living “Enchanted Open House” and the “PonyUp For a Cause Kentucky Derby” Fundraiser last spring.
Please join the Hingham Singers at their winter concert “Songs from the Hearth” on Saturday, January 27 at 7:00pm at Hingham’s Congregational Church. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the door.
If you are interested in joining the Hingham Singers you are invited to our next open audition on Tuesday, February 6, 7:00-8:30pm at The Hingham Center for Active Living 224 Central St, Hingham, MA 02043. Email: TheHinghamSingers@gmail.com to RSVP.
The Hingham Singers would like Thank Our Generous 2023-2024 Sponsors
Platinum Corporate Sponsor
Leon Merian Group
Corporate Sponsors
Darleen Lannon Real Estate
BetterVet
The Company Theater
SEI-Boston – Business and Management Consulting Firm
Steve Waynen – Service for Seniors
Friends of Hingham Singers
Karen Green
Kara Holleran
Dr. James and Mary Ann Gilbert
The Hingham Singers has also received a generous South Shore Playhouse Associates 2023 Grant for our 2023-2024 Season.
The South Shore Music Circus and the Cape Cod Melody Tent are run by the South Shore Playhouse Associates, a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to support other 501(c)3 organizations in our local communities of the South Shore and Cape Cod
The Hingham Singers 2023-2024 Members
SOPRANO
Carolyn Antoine
Cassandra Cellucci
Nicole Gudmand
Julie Rohlfing
Bakhita Wanner
ALTO
Karen Green
Lakshmi Hobson
Mary Holleran
Patty Gilbert McDonald
Mary Perry
Marianne Telenko
MUSIC DIRECTOR
David Wanner
BASS
Doug Anderson
Todd Merritt
Jon Michaels
Sam Mullin
Steve Waynen
TENOR
Bruce Herzfelder
Don Jensen
Jeff Mailhot
Ryan McLean
ACCOMPANIST
Richard Hagborg