History of the Randolph Singers
The Randolph Singers had their initial start in 1968 when the local PTA wanted to sponsor a Broadway show to raise funds. Three people were chosen to co-chair this event and they approached H. Walton Alderfer, a retired choral director, to direct the music. For its inaugural presentation, the team selected Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance”. The production was performed in the spring of 1968 at a very neglected and run-down Chandler Music Hall. The following two years, stage shows were performed in the John N. Murray Memorial Auditorium of the Randolph Union High School. Eventually the group returned to perform at Chandler Music Hall. The group eventually chose the name the Randolph Singers, with new members continuing to join. The mission they chose was to help revitalize and refurbish the important resource and historical building, Chandler Music Hall.
During the forty plus years that the Singers have existed, they have performed over seventy-five concerts in Randolph and beyond. Hundreds of individuals have had the opportunity to both perform and learn about music and theater through these programs and thousands of attendees young and old have enjoyed the shows and concerts. The Singers have performed joint concerts with schools groups and shared the stage and sung with other community and professional ensembles. The Singers have participated in the performance of major choral works with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Hampshire Festival Orchestra, along with performing concerts with orchestras raised by the chorus itself.
As with any organization of such long standing, the mission of the Randolph Singers has adapted to the evolution of the group itself, its community as a whole, and the large demographic shifts happening across the state of Vermont. The core values of the organization have remained consistent: to provide an opportunity for any individual who has a love of singing to find their voice, and an opportunity to share and develop their talent. No auditions are required, nor are any particular musical achievements, only a love of music and singing. This approach has provided the membership the opportunity for personal enjoyment and improvement of music and performance. Now, in its fourth decade, the Singers is enriching the lives of yet another generation of musicians from across Central Vermont and providing new and exciting music to the Central Vermont area.
Some highlights to consider about the Randolph Singers:
- The Singers perform a minimum of two concerts per year featuring repertoire from Broadway show tunes to major classical and sacred work.
- A typical performance will provide 30 to 50 singers an opportunity to perform.
- Participants travel from across Vermont to perform with the Singers: the membership come from communities that include Vershire, Cabot, Tunbridge, the Mad River Valley, Barre, Montpelier, Norwich, Sharon, and of course the larger Randolph area.
- The Randolph Singers are a 501(c)(3) organization and all contributions are deductible to the full extent allowed by law. The Singers have maintained a positive balance sheet; this highly disciplined protocol will ensure the Singers long-term financial viability. The Singers is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors elected by the membership at the annual meeting.
- The Singers enjoy 100 percent board participation in fund raising programs as well as broad community support for raffles, dinners and outright gifts. All gifts are graciously sought and appreciated.
- The Randolph Singers is truly a community chorus. There are no auditions, the requirement is a love of singing, a willingness to embrace the highest standards of excellence, and a commitment to work diligently to achieve these standards.
Mission of the Randolph Singers
As a non-auditioned volunteer community chorus, the Mission of the Randolph Singers is to bring the love of music and singing and enjoyment from participating in a community chorus to its members through regular weekly rehearsals, and, secondly, to enrich the cultural opportunities for the greater Randolph communities by performing its music at a minimum of two concerts annually, and always at a nominal cost or freewill donation so that everyone will have the opportunity to attend.
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