Month: August 2024

Please join in and share the news!

The Cape Ann Symphony recently announced that Rockport’s Wendy Betts, longtime Director of the CAS Chorus will retire and her daughter multi-talented musician Brittany Betts will take over as Choral Director for the CAS Chorus.

‘’We are thrilled to have Brittany Betts join us as the new Director of the Cape Ann Symphony Chorus. She is a fabulous musician and will do an amazing job conducting the chorus. We will be collaborating with her and the wonderful singers of the chorus at the Holiday Pops concerts, and are really looking forward to it!” 

–Yoichi Udagawa, Cape Ann Symphony Music Dir & Conductor

Brittany Betts will make her debut with the CAS Chorus during the CAS annual Holiday Pops Concert on November 30 and December 1.

Message from Brittany Betts

“I am honored to be carrying on the tradition of choral excellence with the Cape Ann Symphony Chorus that my mom, Wendy Betts, so beautifully crafted for 16 years, ” says Brittany Betts, “I believe music has the ability to bring people together for good and, together with Maestro Udagawa and the symphony, the chorus and I will help bring our community together with beauty, skill and fun. The Symphony continues to grow and expand their skillfulness, and so it stands, at this new time for the chorus, we should do the same. In order to fulfill this growth, we will be changing things up a bit and holding auditions a week before rehearsals begin in order to build a smaller chorus of about 40 singers. We are hoping some of our local high school students might like to participate too! I also want to share that I am thrilled that Priscilla Walter, pianist extraordinaire, has agreed to be the chorus accompanist this year! She is an excellent musician who has been sharing her musical gifts on Cape Ann for years and we are blessed to have her with us once again.”

Brittany Betts

Cape Ann Symphony Chorus Auditions

Cape Ann Symphony Chorus Auditions will be held on Saturday September 7 from 10 am -Noon and Wednesday September 12 from 6 pm – 8 pm.  If you are interested in auditioning, please contact Brittany Betts at brittanybetts@gmail.com

CAS Chorus Rehearsals will be Wednesdays September 18-November 20 from 7 pm – 9 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lanesville along with 2 rehearsals with the orchestra during the week of the concerts. The Cape Ann Symphony 2024 Holiday Pops Concerts are:

• Saturday, November 30, 2024: 2:00 PM Dolan Performing Arts Center, Ipswich High School. Ipswich, MA
• Saturday, November 30, 2024: 7:30 PM Manchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
• Sunday, December 1, 2024: 2:00 PM Manchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

The Cape Ann Symphony launched The Cape Ann Symphony Chorus under the directions of Wendy Betts at the 2005 Holiday Pops Concert. . The group has performed with the Cape Ann Symphony at Holiday Pops Concerts in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 2013, 2014. 2015, 2016. 2017, 2018, 2019,2021 and 2022. “I am excited to share that Maestro Udagawa and I have put together a fun Holiday POPS program for 2024, ” continues Betts, “The chorus will be presenting five beautiful and fun pieces to reflect the holiday and winter season – filled with traditional favorites and new to us pieces. You can expect to tap your feet to a medley of broadway Christmas tunes, and to feel cozy and reflective as the choir sings a tender lullaby about winter and time passing by.  We will then honor our Jewish and Christian friends’ traditions with a medley of Hanukkah pieces which you will end up wanting to sing along to, and a stunningly beautiful favorite of the classical choral realm, John Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music”.  And we will top it all off with a rousing gospel piece, “Rejoice! How Great Our Joy” which reflects the jubilance of the Christian Christmas tradition. You will want to stand and clap for sure (and we want you to do so)! Now, don’t worry, we will be inviting the audience to join their voices as one big choir on the sing-a-long as has been a long favored tradition at the Holiday Pops Concerts. So grab your ticket, do your vocal warm-ups and let’s celebrate the season TOGETHER this November!”

Brittany Betts brings with her a different approach to the choral world having primarily worked as a trumpeter,  djembefola (someone who skillfully plays the djembe, a West African drum) collaborator, worship leader, jazz singer and composer. She performs with the David Whitney Orchestra, Riverside Renaissance Swing Band, Cantemus Chamber Chorus and the vocal trio, ONE. In 2023-2024, she served as Artist-in-Residence at First Church Congregational in Swampscott, composing sung liturgies and songs for their Advent and Lenten services. Ms. Betts traveled the country and abroad as a Glocal (local and global combined) Musician Educator and Worship Coordinator with the Global Mission Unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for 10 years. During that time she also served on the music staff of Visible Music College in Memphis, TN where she taught voice, music theory, rock bands, the World Music Ensemble and a guided improvisation class.

Cape Ann Symphony Chorus Auditions will be held on Saturday September 7^th, from 10 am – Noon and Wednesday September 12 from 6 pm – 8 pm.  If you are interested in auditioning, please contact Brittany Betts via email here: brittanybetts@gmail.com

The Cape Ann Symphony Holiday Pops Concerts are Saturday, November 30 at 2 pm at the Dolan Performing Arts Center at Ipswich High School on 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA; Saturday, November 30  at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 1 at 2 pm at Manchester-Essex High School auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA . Single ticket prices are $50 for adults, $45 for senior citizens age 65 and above, $20 for Students of any age with a valid student id; $5 for youth 12 years old and under. For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit http://www.capeannsymphony.org.