St. Augustine Community Chorus Turns 70

OLDEST PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION IN ST. AUGUSTINE TURNS 70!
St. Augustine Community Chorus to celebrate with Gala party and concerts for the public

A milestone has arrived in the performing arts in St. Augustine, with the St. Augustine Community Chorus celebrating its 70th year/season and hosting a gala benefit and two concerts to honor it in March – claiming ownership of being the oldest performing arts organization in the historic city.
“We are delighted to be at this great age as an organization and continuing to provide relevant, joyful musical entertainment for this city that so embraces music in all forms,” said Lynn Abjornson, President of the St. Augustine Community Chorus. “We love that there are so many talented musicians turning 70 this year including Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Billy Joel, and Lionel Richie – great music is enduring, and singing is a lifelong pleasure,” she added.
The public can attend one of three events to be part of the festivities: a gala dinner, dancing and silent auction event on March 8th at Riverview Club in St. Augustine Shores; or two concerts on March 16th or 17th at Lewis Auditorium, all with the St. Augustine Orchestra for this unique shared program.
I Hear America Singing is the name of the concerts which will be jointly conducted by Maestros Mike Sanflippo and Scott Gregg. The program includes music by iconic American composers such as Bernstein, Copland, Gershwin, and Berlin, as well as folk tunes and recently composed pieces. Classics that will be performed include selections from West Side Story and Porgy and Bess, and several of Irving Berlin’s greatest hits: There’s No Business Like Show Business; Puttin’ On The Ritz; Blue Skies and God Bless America! The public will also hear Aaron Copland’s quintessential piece Lincoln Portrait.
“This program was conceived as a celebration of Americana,” said Mike Sanflippo, who has been conducting the Chorus since 2015. “I Hear America Singing is also a great theme for our concert, as choral singing continues to be the most popular form of participation in the performing arts in the US, with approximately 12,000 professional and community choruses in the country.”
“We are delighted to be performing our first collaborative concerts with just the St. Augustine Community Chorus on such a positive occasion,” said Mitch Kolesaire, Board Chairperson of the St. Augustine Orchestra, which is in its 57th Season. “I think it will be tremendous for the public to see and hear the Chorus and Orchestra onstage together with such a powerful voice and inspiring delivery.”
Tickets are on sale now for the Gala and Concerts at https://saosaccevents.ticketleap.com/. The Gala is Friday, March 8th from 6 – 10 p.m. at Riverview Club, 790 Christina Drive. The concerts are Saturday, March 16th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 17th at 3:00 p.m. at Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada Street. Information on the Chorus is at http://www.staugustinecommunitychorus.org/; information about the Orchestra is at https://staugustineorchestra.org/. The St. Augustine Orchestra was just awarded the Best Large Band/Orchestra award in FOLIO Weekly’s first ‘Best Of St. Augustine’ readers’ poll.