A History of PFC

A History of Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC) 1999-2025

How it began

It started with an idea and, like all ideas, there’s a back story behind it.

Twenty-five years ago, it was the norm for local churches to have choirs and use organs. Plymouth had an annual choir festival where local church choirs came together for a concert: each choir shared one or two pieces and then all choirs combined to sing something stirring like the Hallelujah Chorus or Wilhousky’s Battle Hymn of the Republic. Everyone enjoyed it and some had the idea that we should start a community chorus. Plymouth had had one called the Old Colony Choral Society for many years (until about 1985). Some who had sung then remembered how much you can do, chorally speaking, with a larger group.

The real credit for starting PFC goes to Maureen Lilla, one of the Church of the Pilgrimage choir members. While many felt that it was a wonderful idea and something they’d support, Maureen worked hard to make sure it happened. There were meetings and bylaw discussions and legal counsel and talk about the right name (it was Maureen who felt that for anything to succeed in Plymouth, it had to have “Pilgrim” or “Mayflower” in its title) and where to rehearse and perform and what to sing… All necessary decisions– but many less business-minded people simply wanted to get down to singing.

The truth is you need both kinds of people to run a chorus: those who are practical, nuts-and-bolts kinds of people, and those who are creative, artistic types. From its earliest days, PFC had an abundance of both kinds.

The first rehearsal was held on Monday, October 4, 1999, at the intermediate school on Long Pond Road in Plymouth. The director was William B. Richter and the accompanist Elizabeth Chapman Reilly. Their long partnership at Church of the Pilgrimage made them obvious choices. Maureen Lilla was the president of the Pilgrim Festival Foundation, the legal entity of which the chorus was a part. There were over a hundred singers.

PFC’s debut performance was “Concert of Thanksgiving” on November 27, 1999. Held at Church of the Pilgrimage, this free concert was described as “a narrated Thanksgiving concert of traditional and inspirational choral music.” It became the model for several subsequent concerts.

From the start, PFC had a partnership with the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under the direction of Steven Karidoyanes. The first time PFC participated in the PPO Holiday Pops concert was on December 11 and 12, 1999.

Pilgrim Festival Chorus was launched.

Growing Pains

Almost at once, there were conflicts among the three PFC leaders. The main disagreement was concerning who would make artistic decisions. The leadership “team” quickly dissolved when Elizabeth resigned, followed a bit later by Bill. This left the chorus without director and accompanist, so for the next two years performances were directed and accompanied by a “guest.” While it was interesting for the singers to experience different styles of leadership, it was not the best way for the chorus to grow musically.

In the summer of 2002, after Maureen Lilla had resigned, the PFC board asked Bill and Elizabeth to come back. They have been there ever since. Their goal for the chorus has always been to perform excellent repertoire that will help promote choral music on the South Shore.

Holiday Pops

For more than ten years, PFC was a regular guest of the PPO at their annual Holiday Pops concert. It was a wonderful opportunity to perform with an excellent orchestra, however, the downside of participating was that it limited PFC’s own growth. For all the years PFC sang with the PPO, it was a rush to prepare a standalone concert in early November, followed by a whirlwind of rehearsals to get ready for the Pops. It was a hectic schedule for all, and singers sometimes felt underprepared for both concerts. It also prevented PFC from doing their own Christmas concert, something many would like to have done.

2011 was the last year PFC sang at the PPO Holiday Pops concert. Although some would like to have continued singing with them, the model used since then has been very beneficial to the chorus, both musically and financially, as the Christmas concerts help fund the rest of the program year.

What PFC’s musical year looks like

PFC’s evolved model is what has been followed for about the last fifteen years. The winter concert is a Christmas concert, using a mix of well-known and lesser-known music. Usually there’s a theme such as A Mediterranean Christmas, Around the World Christmas, A Very British Christmas, Carols for the 21st Century, and so on. This has allowed PFC to sing a wide variety of seasonal repertoire from many different traditions.

A few weeks later, PFC hosts a Messiah and Carol Sing where the audience becomes the chorus in singing Part I of G. F. Handel’s masterpiece, along with seasonal carols.

In January, PFC begins rehearsing for the spring concert, often a longer work in the established choral repertoire such as Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Brahms’s German Requiem, Haydn’s Creation, and Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus. PFC has also programmed newer works such as Orff’s Carmina Burana, Jenkins’s Armed Man, Whitbourn’s Annelies, and Forrest’s Requiem for the Living. On occasion, PFC has used the spring concert to showcase shorter works, such as Retrospectives (celebrating the work of recent composers), Music for Monarchs (highlighting works with “royal” themes), and A Woman’s Voice (commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment). Some of these concerts use an orchestra; for others, PFC is accompanied by piano or organ.

The summer season is a quick one: PFC rehearses for about six weeks and then performs “light” works at several different places. This gives PFC exposure in towns outside of Plymouth. Over the years, PFC has performed in Duxbury, Middleborough, Norwell, Plympton, and Scituate, in addition to various locations in Plymouth. Material for the summer concerts generally falls in three categories: Americana, musical theater, and jazz highlights from the great American songbook. Around half of the current membership enjoys participating in the summer concerts as Pilgrim Festival Singers. In recent years, talented teens have been invited to sing in the summer concerts, which further enhances PFC’s goal to nurture young musicians and foster opportunities to inspire a lifelong involvement in music as a vibrant and necessary part of their lives.

20th anniversary, COVID, and after

PFC celebrated its 20th anniversary year (2019) with gala concerts in Plymouth and Scituate. The latter included Scituate High School singers in a performance of Mozart’s Requiem. For 2020, PFC had plans to mark two special commemorations: the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower, and the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment with a concert of music by and about women. However, with the outbreak of COVID-19, everything ground to a halt.

Rehearsals were suspended in March of 2020 and did not resume until August of 2021. During that time, the president, Greg Martin, was diagnosed with a quick-moving cancer of the brain. He died in the summer of 2021. Socially distanced members sang Elaine Hagenberg’s beautiful setting of the hymn, O Love, at an outside

Page 3 of 5 A History of Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC) 1999-2025 Revised by Elizabeth Chapman Reilly, 2025

celebration of his life. Bill had previously led about 40 singers in a virtual recording of this piece, which was part of the planned A Woman’s Voice concert. This virtual singing allowed PFC members to stay connected at a difficult time.

When PFC started to prepare for the fall 2021 concert, Pilgrim Journey: Songs of Faith & Courage, COVID was still a major issue for many so the group that assembled was fairly small. But even with masks, it was a joy to sing again, and finally bring to fruition the concert to commemorate the landing of the Mayflower. This concert consisted of Alice Parker’s Melodious Accord, and a newly commissioned piece by Clifton J. Noble, Arrived in Good Harbor. Both pieces were accompanied by a brass quartet.

Following that, Remembering Christmas Past was prepared in a mere seven rehearsals. PFC could do this because much of the repertoire was drawn from music we’d performed in the past. The main goal was to get singing again. A Woman’s Voice followed in spring 2022, and PFC was back in the swing of things with summer and winter concerts following.

Since then, both PFC membership and audiences have grown dramatically. Visibility in the community has increased. Performances of Handel’s Israel in Egypt and Brahms’s German Requiem were hugely successful.

Where PFC sings

Until 2016, most concerts and rehearsals took place at Church of the Pilgrimage. When they needed to renovate their space, PFC had to find a new place to rehearse and perform. Faith Community Church on Carver Road in Plymouth has proved to be a good space with its central location. Most major concerts are performed at St. Bonaventure Parish in Manomet. Both churches have been extremely supportive and welcoming.

Since 2016, the annual Messiah Sings have been performed at the First Congregational Church at the Green in Middleborough. Prior to that time, they were at Church of the Pilgrimage.

In addition to “formal” concerts, PFC has also sung at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast and performed a Christmas concert at The Village at Duxbury.

Presidents and the board

PFC has always been fortunate to have a dedicated group of people to work behind the scenes, serving on the board. Here’s a list of presidents:

• Maureen Lilla
• Connie Melahoures
• Cyndy Dorchester
• Eileen McCaffrey
• Lizbeth Estes
• Kate Holl
• Greg Martin
• Hannah Woodbury
• Sara Weiss

Section leaders

In 2022, PFC assigned a section leader for each of the four parts. These dedicated people have been extremely helpful in being points of contact for their section, as well as identifying areas needing extra rehearsal. Thus far, section leaders have been:

• Soprano: Susan Wolfthal

• Alto: Beth Frasso, Sara Weiss

• Tenor: Jim Doyle, Jared Wise

• Bass: Lynne Hare, David Tyler

Honoring long-time members

Katie Allen
Don Brown
Joy Burns
Larry Carlson
Elizabeth Chapman Reilly
Ginny Davis
Lizbeth Estes
Linda Gigliotti
Meredith Hutchings
Bob Kniffen
Connie Melahoures
Dan Miot
Lois Post
Bill Richter
Eliza Schacht

(bold = charter member)

Major repertoire/longer works performed

Magnificat in D – C. P. E. Bach

Cantata 179 – J. S. Bach

Cantata 192 – J. S. Bach

Chichester Psalms – Leonard Bernstein

A German Requiem – Johannes Brahms

Liebeslieder Waltzes – Johannes Brahms

A Ceremony of Carols – Benjamin Britten

Messe de Minuit pour Noel – Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Requiem – Luigi Cherubini

Fern Hill – John Corigliano

Requiem – Gabriel Faure

Requiem for the Living – Dan Forrest

Illuminare – Elaine Hagenberg

Israel in Egypt – G. F. Handel

Judas Maccabaeus – G. F. Handel

The Messiah – G. F. Handel

The Creation – Joseph Haydn

Lord Nelson Mass – Joseph Haydn

The Armed Man – Karl Jenkins

Missa Brevis – Zoltán Kodály

Elijah – Felix Mendelssohn

Lobgesang – Felix Mendelssohn

Coronation Mass – W. A. Mozart

Requiem – W. A. Mozart

Song for Saint Cecilia’s Day – Clifton J. Noble

Arrived in Good Harbor – Clifton J. Noble

Carmina Burana – Carl Orff

Melodious Accord – Alice Parker

Dancing Day – John Rutter

Gloria – John Rutter

Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest – Conrad Susa

Dona Nobis Pacem – Ralph Vaughan Williams

Fantasia on Christmas Carols – Ralph Vaughan Williams

Annelies – James Whitbourn

Missa Carolae – James Whitbourn

A Great and Glorious Victory – Jonathan Willcocks

In Memorium

PFC remembers with love and appreciation some of the dedicated singers who have been part of Pilgrim Festival Chorus in the past.

Bruce Allen
Gerry Allen
Virginia Bartlett
Kay Budd
Richard Campbell
Robert Cummings
Mellicent Drake
Martina Ferrante
Klaus Haak
Janice Holton
Allen Hoyt
Shirley Hoyt
Donald Jennings
Doris Johnson
Raquel Koch
Greg Martin
Eileen McCaffrey
Pamela McLernon
Louisette Musow
Tom Nordquist
Mariette Perdigao
Ray Pool
Douglas Post
Robert Potter
Faith “Marcie” Romboldi
Sally Saniuta
Paul Scheid
Richard Shattuck
Ruth Betty Shippee
Walter Shobbrook
Ella Mae Sifferd
Linda Tassinari
Pauline Thomas
Jay Van Oss
Beverly Wilson

What's next?

As PFC celebrates its 25th year, PFC leaders are in awe of what we’ve been able to accomplish. PFC is a diverse, well-balanced chorus of around 100 singers from twenty South Shore communities, with an age range spanning 70 years, an extremely strong board, and consistent leadership in the shape of Bill and Elizabeth who have led PFC pretty much since its inception. PFC has expanded its presence in the community, increased the scholarship award amount given to students majoring in music, and worked to expand audiences in many ways.

PFC’s goal for the future? – To keep up the tradition of excellence started back in 1999. Considering the diminished role of choral music in many churches and schools over the past 25 years, it’s more important than ever for PFC to continue its core mission: to present diverse choral works that educate, enrich, and engage both its members and its audiences.