By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Hudson – John Anthony Volpe completed his first season this past spring as director of the River’s Edge Chorale, a music program of the Hudson-based River’s Edge Arts Alliance (REAA).
He began leading the group of over 30 singers after its founding director Paul Johnson moved to Cape Cod. Volpe felt comfortable throughout his first chorale rehearsal process from April to mid-June.
“They’re a wonderfully warm group of people, coming together to make others happy through song,” he said. “It could have been difficult with a new director to have them feel like their voice was heard. It’s been amazing, getting to know them and seeing how supportive they are of me and each other.”
Support for Volpe from REAA started with Kat Alix-Gaudreau, its executive director. They performed together in the 2010 musical production of Roger and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” at ACT Theater Company in North Andover. Volpe portrayed the lead role of Prince Christopher.
The chorale’s season concluded with Volpe directing them in an outdoor concert at Wood Park, which also featured the REAA’s band and youth chorus.
“It was a beautiful evening and very well-attended,” he said. “The singers really paid attention to direction and everything we had done in rehearsals came into fruition. The town of Hudson is really blessed to have such a beautiful performance venue to share that experience, especially at its 150th anniversary.”
Celebrating the town’s sesquicentennial, the concert finale featured the River’s Edge Community Band playing “The Glory of Hudson,” a song written for the Hudson centennial in 1966.
“I let everybody know that I’d like the song performed every year because of the strong roots it has with this town,” Volpe noted.
Volpe already knew some of the chorale members because they also sing in the choir at St. Michael Parish in Hudson, where he served as music director for nearly seven years up to the Aug. 7 weekend. He became aware of the town’s centennial song through Sally Guidotti, who formerly directed the parish music ministry and is still actively involved.
In 2008, he earned a bachelor’s of music degree in vocal performance from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. There, Volpe learned lessons that he applied in his work with both the chorale and music ministry.
“I learned to be a good listener,” he said. “It’s important to listen to everybody because their voice is important to the bigger picture, whether it’s now or in the future.”
As music director at St. Michael Parish, Volpe conducted the English- and Portuguese-speaking choirs, provided vocal training for cantors, and sang and/or played organ for weddings, funerals and church functions. He also led a youth choir, which disbanded after the closings of the parish’s Hudson Catholic High in 2009 and St. Michael School in 2011.
In 2010, Volpe released a CD entitled “Sacred Memories.” He donated a portion of the proceeds to the parish music program. In 2011, he began an annual Choral Sing with selections from Handel’s “Messiah” during the holidays. In 2014, he conducted the parish choir for its CD recording of “Christmas Joy.”
“We recorded it in July and it must have been 90 degrees in that church,” he recalled. “Even still, everybody had a smile on their face, singing Christmas carols. That’s when the music ministry felt more like a family.”
Volpe is looking forward to resuming weekly rehearsals with the River’s Edge Chorale this fall. For information, visit upwitharts.org and on Facebook at facebook.com/REArtsAlliance.