The Countryside Community Choir is made up of about 40 volunteers from our surrounding communities, from all walks of life, who come together to sing praise to God. Every year Countryside performs a Christmas and Easter cantata at various churches throughout the local central NY area. They present up to four performances each season.
The choir was established in the late 1960s, and has had 4 musical directors. Anne Humphrey was the original director of the choir, which was established as an ecumenical choir to sing at Palm Sunday services. Anne was replaced by George Ames, who was the music teacher and band director at DeRuyter Central School. Somewhere around 1970, Muriel Newcomb became the director of the choir and remained as director for 28 years. When Muriel took over the choir, she gradually picked more challenging music to perform. Eventually, each season, she selected a different cantata to perform. The cantatas were composed of solos, duets, trios, narration and choral singing.
After Muriels' retirement in 1998, Bill Tei became, and remains, the director of the choir. The tradition of presenting cantatas to spread the message of Jesus Christ continues to the present.
The choir was established in the late 1960s, and has had 4 musical directors. Anne Humphrey was the original director of the choir, which was established as an ecumenical choir to sing at Palm Sunday services. Anne was replaced by George Ames, who was the music teacher and band director at DeRuyter Central School. Somewhere around 1970, Muriel Newcomb became the director of the choir and remained as director for 28 years. When Muriel took over the choir, she gradually picked more challenging music to perform. Eventually, each season, she selected a different cantata to perform. The cantatas were composed of solos, duets, trios, narration and choral singing.
After Muriels' retirement in 1998, Bill Tei became, and remains, the director of the choir. The tradition of presenting cantatas to spread the message of Jesus Christ continues to the present.
The Countryside Community Choir will be presenting a cantata titled "Love Made a Way" written by Mary McDonald and Jay Rouse for the Christmas season. The cantata tells a story of the journey of Christmas, from a manger to a cross.
We would like to thank all the churches that have invited us to present our cantata this year, allowing us to fulfill our mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through music.
Sunday Dec 1, 2019 Seventh Day Adventist Church, Cortland, NY at 2:30 pm
Sunday Dec 8, 2019 New Woodstock Community Church, New Woodstock, NY at 2:30 pm
Sunday Dec 15, 2019 South Otselic Methodist Church, South Otselic, NY 2:30 pm
Sunday Dec 22, 2019 United Church of DeRuyter, DeRuyter, NY at 2:30 pm
The Countryside Community Choir will be starting practice for Christmas cantata on September 9, 2019 at 7: 00 pm in the United Church of DeRuyter. Please come join us!
The Rolling Hills Quartet is performing throughout the year , if you are interested in having the quartet sing at your function, please go to contact page for the contact information. Please click on The Rolling Hills Quartet above for upcoming performance dates.
