The Hamilton-Gibson Choir, of Tioga County, is singing in the 11:15 a.m. worship service this Sunday, March 30 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 1650 Clay Avenue, in Tyrone.
People from around the area are invited to participate in the worship service, led by the One Heart Praise Team. The Hamilton-Gibson Choir will sing several selections throughout the service.
Hamilton-Gibson Choir began in 1996 with 18 singers in grades 4-8. Founded by Thomas Putnam and accompanist Kay Galloway, the choir has expanded to include 55 singers in the Choir TOO (grades 2-5), Children’s (grades 5-8), Young Men’s and Young Women’s Choirs (grades 9-12). The community choirs have performed throughout the Twin Tiers of PA and NY for civic and community events, and toured in New York City, Harrisburg, Washington D.C., and Toronto. In March of 2003- the day after the US entered Iraq- singers from grades 4-12 traveled to Prague for a goodwill performance tour. In the spring of 2006 the choirs toured Brazil.
The choir was designated Tioga County’s Singing Youth Ambassadors, and Pennsylvania’s Singing Youth Ambassadors in 2001 by the Pennsylvania State Legislature. In 2000 they performed Copland’s Old American Songs with both Mansfield University’s Orchestra and Williamsport Youth Orchestra. They were invited to sing the National Anthem at the Little League World Series with President and Mrs. Bush in attendance; and have sung at every World Series since. In April of 2002, they performed Carmina Burana with the Mansfield University Festival Choir under the direction of Peggy Dettwiler.
Thomas Wells Putnam (director) is director of Hamilton-Gibson Productions, a community performing arts group. Early training in music began with his parents, choral directors and music educators George and Jean Putnam in Michigan. Further training included extensive work with Gilbert Jackson and degrees from Mansfield and Bucknell Universities.
Katherine Brennan (director) directs the Young Women’s Choir and the Choir TOO, received her BME from Valparaiso University and MA from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Brennan has taught choral and general music in Indiana, Illinois and Oklahoma, and works presently with H-G and Trinity Lutheran School, Wellsboro. She has been the director of Mansfield University Summer Youth Music Camp, 1999-present and has been a guest clinician/adjudicator in Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana. She is a member of MENC and ACDA.
Kay Galloway has been the accompanist for the H-G Choirs since its inception. Her degrees include Bachelors of Organ Performance from Tulsa University, and Masters in Musicology from Catholic University. She has been a church organist and accompanist for over 40 years.
This year the choirs are celebrating THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. The entire repertoire for the year is comprised of songs that are either directly focused on or mention animals. This tour beginning in Pittsburgh on Saturday kicks off their 67 INITIATIVE, a plan to perform in every county in Pennsylvania.
