River Singers - Fall 2025

The River Singers Community Chorus led by Mary Cay Brass with Andy Davis is celebrating their 35th anniversary of joyous singing together with two special holiday concerts Saturday, December 13 at 4pm and Sunday, December 14 at 4pm at the Westminster West Church.

The 70-voice River Singers is a multi-generational chorus known for its eclectic mix of community-based music from many cultural and musical traditions. You'll hear thrilling, soulful songs from Bosnia, South Africa, Macedonia and Belarus, rousing African American gospel, social justice songs and more! Choir member Andy Davis will lead songs from the local Nowell Sing We Clear tradition and one of his own compositions based on a text from Wind in the Willows. The choir will also sing a memorial song arranged by and honoring Peter Amidon. Several songs will be accompanied by the choir’s amazing “Balkan Band” with Laurie Rabut on fiddle, Addie Rose Holland on clarinet, Richie Davis on percussion and Andrew Fries on trombone!

Throughout the years the River Singers have hosted many international choirs - The Boys Choir of Kenya, The Christminster Singers and Big Sky Chorus from the UK, the Zedashe Ensemble from the Republic of Georgia, the Bulgarian Pauni Trio, Kitka, the San Francisco based women’s Balkan ensemble. Internationally renowned choral leaders from South Africa, Georgia, Ghana, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Russia, Albania, to name a few, have done residencies and workshops with the choir a unique repertoire of authentic, lively, earthy sounds.

Funds raised will be donated to local organizations working in community food support.

“This choir is my church!” choir member.

“The River Singers … achieve a creative communal zenith in performance that is uncommonly enigmatic and extraordinarily invigorating. Dressed not in choir robes, but their own attire, and responding to Brass’ direction with genuine, unabashed earnestness and zeal, these folks exude elation and it’s contagious!” The Rutland Herald

For more information contact [email protected] and see www.marycaybrass.com