Alice Parker, a renowned figure in choral music with a passion for melody, wrote many operas, song-cycles, cantatas, works for chorus and orchestra, choral suites, and original hymns. She also arranged spirituals, hymns, and folk songs, including French, Spanish, Hebrew, and Latino folk songs, many of which have become part of the repertoire of choirs around the world. A lifelong resident of Massachusetts, Parker had strong ties to the Valley, including being a Smith College alumna. She passed away at her home in Hawley on December 24, 2023 at the age of 98.

On February 22, 300+ singers from six local choirs will fill the beautiful Abbey Chapel at Mount Holyoke College for an afternoon celebrating Alice Parker’s prolific body of work and her dedication to music, language, and the singing voice.

Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus dir. Dr. Allegra Martin
Brattleboro Concert Choir dir. Dr. Jonathan Harvey
Da Camera Singers dir. Sheila Heffernon
Keene State College Chamber Singers dir. Dr. Sandra Howard
Mount Holyoke College Chorale dir. Dr. Colin Britt
South Hadley Chorale dir. Anita Anderson-Cooper

Tickets can be purchased at pvsoc.org/tickets.

Sponsored by: Mount Holyoke College Department of Music, Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, Mass Cultural Council, Lathrop Retirement Communities, and Greenfield Cooperative Bank.