The Choral Arts Foundation of the Upper Valley lists more than 30 groups on its website, including church choirs, community choruses and ensembles, and youth choruses. There’s certainly no shortage of options for anyone who wants to sing. One of these choral groups, Upper Valley Voices (UVV), is approaching 50 years of creating community through singing.

Founded by Director Valerie Miller in 1978 as the Thetford Chamber Singers, the group transitioned to using the name Upper Valley Voices in 2023 to better reflect its repertoire, which includes a wide range of classical and contemporary music, as well as the ensemble’s geographic footprint. Members from across the Upper Valley meet on Tuesday evenings for rehearsals at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley in Norwich. Performances are held each winter and spring at churches throughout the region, most recently in Strafford, Thetford, Norwich, and Lebanon.

The current UVV director, Kevin Quigley, has been with the group since January 2005.

“I really just loved what Valerie Miller, the founder and director, was doing,” said Quigley. “I liked her style, I liked her repertoire, and I liked the people in the group, the vibe. So, I stepped in to sing.”

A Welcoming Atmosphere

UVV Director Kevin Quigley leads a rehearsal.

Quigley became the director in 2013. He creates a choral atmosphere that’s welcoming to singers of varying experience and abilities. Some members are professional musicians, while others have little experience reading music or are returning to a choir after not singing for some time.

“I love having an ensemble that’s that varied but so dedicated to working together,” Quigley said. “It’s inspiring to see the generosity of the experienced artists and it’s inspiring to see the courage of the less experienced artists.”

Sharon Wight, who lived in Lebanon for 13 years before recently moving to Hanover, joined UVV in 2015. “I had worked with Kevin earlier in Revels and he was looking for tenors for a program of folk music and spirituals, some of my favorite music,” she said. “As a woman tenor, it is often hard to find a serious chorus that will accept you, but Kevin welcomed me, and it has been a good fit. I stayed because I really like learning hard music in many languages, and I appreciate Kevin’s directing approach.”

That accessibility is extended to audiences, as Quigley tries to deformalize the concert experience. “We’re very low key and very down to earth when we’re in front of an audience,” he said. “I’ll talk about pieces in informative ways and humble ways, and there’s no choir robes, no tuxedo with tails, that’s just not a part of who we are or what we want to be doing. We want to make things human and real.”

Telling a Story Through Song

Quigley programs the music for each season’s concert based on a theme. “I’ve always felt that art needs be purposeful,” he said. “No matter what kind of art it is, it’s got to do something other than just make people feel good or give them a beautiful experience or entertain them. That’s never been enough for me.”

He starts with a series of questions: What is it that this ensemble needs right now? What is the message? What is the energy we need? When the group came back to in-person rehearsals and concerts after the COVID pandemic, he expanded his criteria to include: What does the Upper Valley community need? “At that point we were talking about vibrancy, health, courage, and the ability to come back together,” he said. “That’s what vocal music does. That’s its purpose. It binds us together socially and emotionally and spiritually.”

When programming music, Quigley enjoys bringing diverse pieces from different time periods, languages, and styles together to form a cohesive story.

The theme for the upcoming Spring 2026 concert is Justice. “This one is about justice and making sure that we understand what it means and how important it is to solidify, to make certain our culture stays stable and caring and compassionate and aware of each other,” he said. “That’s been a bit of a challenge for the past several years, so the music we’re singing in May is all about righting the balance, bringing things back into a place where we can all be proud of where we’re from and where we live and each other regardless of our differences. Where we can treat each other with respect and kindness, and we can become motivated designers of the place we live and how we live there.”

“The music is so appropriate for our world today,” Wight said of the Spring concert theme. “The musical selections range from the 17th century to current times, and topics range from despair to hope. The music really resonates with me, though sometimes it is hard to sing through the emotions it generates.”

Members of Upper Valley Voices

For the Love of Music

Being part of a chorus has individual benefits, as well.

Leah Romano joined the chorus in the 2011-2012 season. She had performed with other local groups and was looking to expand her artist community. She currently serves as UVV’s management committee chair.

With a background in performance and theater, Romano is first and foremost connected to the music. “I just really love learning new music,” she said. “Whether you’re learning it to sing it or appreciate it or connect to the emotionality of a song where you’re like ‘wow, that’s so beautiful.’”

Wight is also drawn to the music. “I really like learning hard music in many languages and I appreciate Kevin’s directing approach,” she said. “Music to me is best when its message is internalized, which meshes with Kevin’s vision, which stresses telling the story of the music and making it a part of yourself rather than striving for musical perfection (although that is good too).”

Members of the group also serve as a support network for each other, and they come together to help members in need.

“I wouldn’t have stayed for so long if it wasn’t for the people,” said Romano. “The singers and the audience alike. They’re just genuinely a caring group of folks. I love learning with them and singing with them.”

A Circular Connection

Singing in a chorus is just one way to get involved in the arts in the Upper Valley. “We share rehearsal spaces, we share venues or program supporters, or companies in the area that want to make a difference,” said Romano. “We’re very mindful of those supporters that have helped us over the years and we thank them. We couldn’t have done it without them. We’re member run, primarily ticket based and donation based, so we get to do what we do because of them. It is that circular connection. Some people want to sing and perform. Some people want to listen and support. Some people just want to make sure the arts are alive in the area.”

As UVV starts planning for its 50th Anniversary celebration, Romano said it will be a collaborative musical opportunity for the community.

“I think that it’s really important we return to singing together,” said Quigley. “It used to be people would get together and sing in bars and pubs, with each other, full hearted. They would sing at the ballpark, at their religious services. Someone could break into song on the street and others would join them. And this is not something that happens anymore. Revitalizing and maintaining our choral tradition is vital to maintaining our humanity.” ■

Lisa Lance joined the Upper Valley Voices in the fall of 2025. For more information about the group and upcoming performances, visit uppervalleyvoices.org.