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A Very Celtic Concert to be presented Sunday, June 8th at 2:00 PM For more information please contact our secretary Denise Torson 860-379-2655 or email: denisetorson@hotmail.com |
Who Are the Laurel City Singers?
Laurel City Singers is a community-based choir, conceived by Adam Atkins, Roger
Atkins, Joe Butkevicius, Debbie Storrs and Lynn Whittaker ten years ago. They
recognized a need to develop a choir that was dedicated to a wide variety of musical
styles.
We generally perform three concerts a year, a spring concert, a fall concert, and We are
proud to be the featured choir in The Boar's Head Festival, sponored by First Church of
Winsted.
Concerts in the past have welcomed guests such as Native American Flute-man, Joseph
Fire Crow, and the well known percussionist, John Marshall. Our Christmas Concert will
also feature the Silver Belles and Beaux.
Click this link to hear a sample of the choir.
Niska Banja was a selection from our International Folkfest Concert.
Our Mission:
- To use our combined talents for the betterment of our community·
- To continue to perform great music from Mozart to Motown, before and
beyond·
- To act as a vehicle for singers to explore their vocal abilities through performance
Our Motto:
- If you can carry a tune, we’ll supply the bucket!!
Come and Join Us in 2008!
For more information please email our secretary, Denise Torson
at denisetorson@hotmail.com
Meet the Volunteer Staff ~
Director:
ADAM P. ATKINS, founding member and director of the Laurel City Singers, is a
Winsted native. He attended the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, where he
received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, a Bachelor of Science degree in
Education, and a Master of Music degree in Music Education. Upon
completing college, he returned to Winsted to accept a teaching position at The
Gilbert School. He has taught at the school for the past ten years where he
teaches three different choruses and the music theory program. In addition, he is
the Music Department Coordinator. He has also been music director for the
Boar's Head Festival for ten years.
Mr. Atkins has been seen in many performances throughout the area as a soloist,
director and singer. He has sung with various groups such as CONCORA,
Gaudeamus, Leading Tone (an eight member a cappella group), Waterbury
Choral and the Connecticut Yankee Choral.
Mr. Atkins enjoys spending his free time working on his new house in Harwinton
and relaxing with his wife Jennifer, son Nicholas, and their two cats.
Accompanist:
CYNTHIA ESEPPI RINES has been entertaining audiences with her music for
over 25 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music/Piano Performance from
St. Joseph College, where she also studied voice, guitar and organ. She is
currently the accompanist for Laurel City Singers and The Gilbert School, and a
member of the local bluegrass gospel group, Mad River Crossing. (Listen to
Mad River) She also plays at various churches and coffeehouses. She enjoys
many types of music, but especially bluegrass gospel. Cynthia is a self-employed
CPA and lives in West Hartland with her husband Jeff.
Administrative Assistants:
DEBBIE STORRS has celebrated life through her love of music. Besides being
a tin whistle and hand-drumming enthusiast, she is a member/co-founder of
Laurel City Singers, directs the First Church Youth Music program, and most
recently a member of the local bluegrass gospel group, Mad River Crossing.
Mrs. Storrs was Administrator and Bookkeeper for Joyful Noise, a choral
organization which had oversight on the activities of the well know children's
choir, Chorus Angelicus, and Gaudeamus, the adult chamber choir. For the past
11 years has served as Director of the Boar's Head Festival, sponored by First
Church of Winsted.
Debbie is currently Accounting Assistant at Northwest Community Bank, and
resides in Torrington with her husband Gary.
LYNN WHITTAKER was raised with music. She believes that music is the
voice of the Soul, and enjoys singing music that inspires and tells a story. Lynn
studied voice at the prestigious Hartt College of Music.
After a brief hiatus, she has returned as Cantor and Soloist at St. Joseph’s
Church in Winsted where she had previously been for eleven years. She
volunteers her time and talents for a number of charitable organizations, including
Special Olympics, the United Way, the Burlington Town Carol Sing, the Boar’s
Head Festival, is co-founder of Laurel City Singers. She has been a featured
vocalist at the benefit concert sponsored by the Church of Christ to aid the local
food banks and soup kitchens. She has also signed on as vocalist with the
bluegrass gospel group, Mad River Crossing.
Mrs. Whittaker is a member of numerous animal rescue foundations, and
rescues dogs from families who can’t keep them, and helps them find new
homes. Lynn lives in Torrington with her husband Scott, and their three rescued
boxers, Molly, Copper, and Hugh and a rescued Boston Terrier, Pekoe. Lynn is
a Professional Dog Trainer and owns her own business, "Bow Wow University,”
and gives individual voice lessons.
Secretary:
DENISE TORSON
Denise has been with LCS since its inception 10 years ago. Besides LCS, she
has been singing in the choir at the Church of Christ for the past 16 years, is Co-
Chairman of the Diaconate and Treasurer of the Memorial Committee. She has
also participated in the Boars Head for the last 10 years.
Denise received her Associate Degree at NWCCC in Business Admin. and is
an Adminstrative Assistant to the President at Torrington Brass & Steel. She has
been married for 24 years to husband, Mark and has two children, Michael and
Cara. The newest addition to the family is their 7 month old puppy, Callie.
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A Kindred Christmas was presented on Sunday, December 9th at 3
PM at the Church of Christ, 800 Main Street, Winsted, Connecticut and to an
audience of approximately 150. It featured CT Yankee Chorale with Director
Amelia Nagoski, and Laurel City Singers with Director Adam Atkins.
Each choir performed World Christmas selections individually, and then
combined for several choruses from Handel's Messiah. Featured organist, Joy
Zublena, was reunited with the instrument she played during her tenure as
organist at Church of Christ.
PM at the Church of Christ, 800 Main Street, Winsted, Connecticut and to an
audience of approximately 150. It featured CT Yankee Chorale with Director
Amelia Nagoski, and Laurel City Singers with Director Adam Atkins.
Each choir performed World Christmas selections individually, and then
combined for several choruses from Handel's Messiah. Featured organist, Joy
Zublena, was reunited with the instrument she played during her tenure as
organist at Church of Christ.
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| THE PROGRAM The Connecticut Yankee Chorale Betelehemu . . .Via Olantunji & Wendell Whalum, Arranged by: Barrington Brooks Nino Lindo. . . . . . . Traditional Venezuelan Carol Arranged by Dave & Jean Perry Laurel City Singers Issay, Issay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arranged by Philip Kern Rocking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arranged by David Wilcox Combined Choruses Selections from the Messiah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .George F. Handel Comfort Ye Come Unto Him And the Glory of the Lord O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion Glory to God Hallelujah Worthy is the Lamb |