Concert Singers perform tonight and again Sunday

SWAMPSCOTT – The Concert Singers of Greater Lynn open their 34th presentation of a pair of spring concerts tonight in Swampscott, with the second show Sunday in Lynn.In keeping with their tradition, each concert will feature a serious, or more classical half and a lighter, Pops-style half.The first half of each concert will feature the well known Mass in G Major of Franz Schubert. This half will also feature a world premier commissioned by the Concert singers, “Credo,” composed by Javier Marquez. This composition, based on the Credo (I Believe) section of the traditional Roman Catholic Mass, brings new life to this statement of faith.Marquez, a North Shore resident, is currently completing a Masters’ degree in composition at UMass-Amherst. He has composed six previous works for the Concert Singers.The chorus will be accompanied by professional Boston area soloists Denise Konicek, soprano, T J Rufo, tenor, and Marc Demille, baritone. The second, “Pops style” section of each concert will feature the music of American composer George M. Cohan and American spirituals.The first performance will be on Friday, May 2 at 8 p.m. at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 101 Forest Ave., Swampscott. The second concert will be held on Sunday, May 4 at 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 571 Boston St., West Lynn. Both concerts are free of charge and both venues are handicap accessible.William C. Sano of Salem has been music director of the Concert Singers for 27 years. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, teaches for the Salem State Explorers LLI, is an active church choir organist and choirmaster, and is a former music supervisor in the Marblehead Public Schools.The accompanist of the concert singers is Margaret J. Dee, a charter member of the Concert Singers, former music teacher in Danvers Public Schools, and currently organist of Our Lady Church in Lynnfield. The 50 chorus members hail from 17 cities and towns north of Boston, as well as two members from New Hampshire, and two more from Pembroke and Plymouth.For more information, call Margaret Oleson at 781-639-4558 or Bill Sano at 978-744-4787, or visit the website www.concertsingersofgreaterlynn.org.