As I write this letter, there’s a chill in the air—a morning crispness that can only mean one thing: Sign-ups for the Fall session of the Somerset Hills Chorus are here!

This year, we’re bringing the magic of An Elizabethan Christmas to life on December 7 at 5 p.m. in the stunning Gothic setting of S.W. Bowne Hall at Drew University (right behind the Shakespeare Theatre). Our concert will feature a selection of timeless Christmas carols spanning the ages, accompanied by harp and percussion, performed in a venue that echoes with history and grandeur. On the event page, you’ll find a couple of photos of the space!

Rehearsals kick off on Monday, October 7, from 7-9 p.m. at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. I hope you’ll consider joining us for this unique and festive celebration of the season—and maybe even bring a friend along! It’s going to be an unforgettable way to start the holidays, and I would love for you to be part of it. The sign up form is available here. Additionally, there will be opportunities to take our carols into the community, as we are booking caroling gigs for the remainder of December. Please contact me directly if you know of any businesses or parties that could use some festive caroling!

Looking ahead, we are once again programming three SHC concerts this season! On March 9, 2025, at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, we will present the monumental Duruflé Requiem, with our own Eric Plutz playing the organ accompaniment. In June of 2025, we will present a concert featuring great television music, including themes from Downton Abbey, Outlander, and more!

In the meantime, don’t miss out on getting tickets to our second annual gala at Blairsden, “The Gilded Age,” on October 5. Much of our programming for the rest of the year relies on the funds raised at this benefit, which directly impacts what we can do in the Somerset Hills Chorus each year. Your support means the world to us, and it’s an absolutely incredible evening of music, dancing, and fun. Tickets are going fast, and we still have sponsorship opportunities available for anyone with a business interested in showcasing themselves at the gala.

Enjoy the rest of your summer—I’m already humming carol tunes over here!

- Stephen

Sing with SHC for
An Elizabethan Christmas

Raise your voice!

Our chorus is open to anyone aged 14 and up, with or without experience, and no audition is necessary to participate. The Somerset Hills Chorus is part of Music in the Somerset Hills (MISH), a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide musical experiences of the highest quality to people who live and work in the Somerset Hills and the surrounding communities. Developed to help all music enthusiasts become better singers in a supportive yet challenging environment, every effort is made to ensure everyone is comfortable with the music.

For each performance cycle, we kindly ask that participants make a suggested donation to MISH of $200. This contribution to our 501(c)(3) organization helps offset the costs of section leaders, rehearsal accompanists, sheet music, space rentals, professional instrumentalists, and production. Chorus members are also expected to actively participate in promoting our concerts to family, friends, and organizations in the area. Students between the ages of 14–22 may participate for no donation but are encouraged to offer tickets to family and friends whenever possible.

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The Somerset Hills Chorus throughout the years:

About our Chorus

The Somerset Hills Chorus (SHC) was developed to help all those who love to sing become better musicians in a supportive yet challenging environment. Open to anyone aged 14 and up, with or without experience, our model enables local amateur singers to perform extraordinary repertoire alongside more seasoned professionals in fine venues within and around the Somerset Hills region of New Jersey. Led by Maestro Stephen Sands, the SHC has given a number of concerts throughout the years, including the Vivaldi Gloria; two major works by Handel – Semele and Messiah; a centenary concert of works by Benjamin Britten; a jazz concert of works by George Shearing; the Fauré Requiem; Bach’s St. John Passion, as well as his Magnificat; Mozart’s Requiem; Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy; Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana; Beethoven’s 9th Symphony; and James Whitbourn’s Annelies.