Spring 2025 Concert

The program opens with George Harrison’s Here Comes the Sun, a joyous celebration of the transition from the chill of winter to the warmth of spring. Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now is a thoughtful meditation on the complexities of life and love. “I was reading ... Henderson the Rain King on a plane and early in the book Henderson ... is also up in a plane. He's on his way to Africa and he looks down and sees these clouds. I put down the book, looked out the window and saw clouds too, and I immediately started writing the song. I had no idea that the song would become as popular as it did.”

The singers add words—sort of—to Beethoven’s Fifth…and perform it a cappella! The audience will be transported back to the big band era with a jazzy rendition of Chattanooga Choo Choo. And  Dylan fans will appreciate the challenging message of The Times they Are a Changin’.

The Chandler Children’s Chorale (CCC), under the direction of Jennifer Page Stickney, will perform selections from the musical Oliver and then join the Singers to bring back sweet childhood memories with When You Wish Upon a  Star from Disney’s Pinocchio.

Pianist Susan Montgomery-Grout will join Christopher McWilliams to play Mozart's Piano Sonata in D Major for four hands.

There will be a celebration of community—hard work, good wine, and lovely women—as the Singers give a rousing performance of the Anvil Chorus (in their best Italian, of course) from Verdi’s Il Trovatore. The afternoon’s program comes to a close with John Rutter’s simple but elegant prayer, The Lord Bless You And Keep You and Siyahamba sung in Swahili will have you marching into spring.

In his third season directing the Randolph Singers, Christopher McWilliams also performs with the Vermont Philharmonic, the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra, Unadilla Theater and the Bach Performathon. Accompanying the Singers and the Chandler Children’s Chorale on the Chandler’s magnificent Steinway D is the incomparable Susan Montgomery-Grout, who superbly takes the place of an entire orchestra in the Verdi.

Randolph Singers wish to thank Mascoma Bank and several other donors for their generous support. The Singers, a non-auditioned community chorus, have been a Randolph institution since 1968. All are welcome to sing with them. For more information, go to RandolphSingers.org.

The Children’s Chorale will be holding a bake sale in the lobby. Admission to the concert is free. Donations will be accepted at the door.

Program

Here Comes the Sun, by George Harrison, 1969, Arranged by Alan Billingsley 

       David Cron, guitar; Greg Hance, drums

Both Sides Now, by Joni Mitchell, 1967

  Arranged by John Leavitt

The Times They Are a Changin', by Bob Dylan, 1963, Arranged by Adam Podd

       Solo: Steve Augustus

Beethoven's A Cappella 5th, L. Van Beethoven, 1808

  Arranged by Jay Rouse, 2019

Piano Sonata in D Major, Allegro, arranged for four hands, by W. A. Mozart

  Christopher McWilliams and Susan Montgomery Grout

Intermission

Chandler Children’s Chorale sing Food Glorious Food & Consider Yourself  from Oliver by           Lionel Bart, 1960  

            and  

A Million Dreams from "The Greatest Showman" by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, 

arranged by Mac Huff

When You Wish Upon a Star, from Walt Disney’s Pinocchio

  by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington,1940

  Joined by the Chandler Children’s Chorale 

Chattanooga Choo Choo, by Mack Gordon & Harry Warren, 1941, 

     Arranged by Mac Huff

       David Cron, guitar; Greg Hance, drums

Anvil Chorus from La Trovatore, by Giuseppe Verdi, 1853

  Greg Hance, percussion

The Lord Bless You and Keep You, by John Rutter, 1986

Siyahamba (We are Marching in the Light of God),  South African traditional

       David Cron, guitar; Greg Hance, drums