Alice Parker Festival

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 seven 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

Illumine Vocal Arts Ensemble dir. Dr. Arianne Abela

Keene State College Chamber Singers dir. Dr. Sandra Howard

Mount Holyoke College Chorale dir. Dr. Colin Britt

South Hadley Chorale dir. Anita Anderson-Cooper

 

The Alice Parker Festival is organized by the PVS under the leadership of Chorus Director Dr. Allegra Martin and hosted by Mount Holyoke College under the leadership of Dr. Colin Britt.

Concert length is approximately 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission.

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At the PVS, we are committed to making the joy of music equitably accessible for all. So, again this season, tickets are offered on a sliding scale of $15-$35. Choose to pay on the higher end of the scale to support the PVS in our commitment to sliding scale rates. Choose to pay on the lower end of the scale if you need a discounted ticket. The suggested ticket price is $25. Seats are general admission regardless of the amount you choose to pay. Tickets for youth up to age 18 and college students of any age are still just $5!

WIC and EBT cardholders may attend PVS concerts for free through the Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program, and free family tickets are available at more than 30 local libraries thanks to our Museum Passes. Contact the PVS Box Office for more information: boxoffice@pvso.org or (413) 773-3664.