Our History ~ 51 Years ~
The Northborough Area Community Chorus was formed in the spring of 1972 by Anthony Volpe. It has grown from a few hearty people attending an adult music education/singing class at Algonquin Regional High School, to a spirited blend of over 60 SATB voices at our peak. Our concert debut in the spring of 1972 gained an enthusiastic response and was the beginning of a new page in the cultural history of Northborough and Worcester County. The Spring of 2022 marked the 50th Anniversary of this enduring community group.
Founder and Director- Anthony Volpe ~1972 to 2018 ~
For 47 years, the group performed under the creative direction of Anthony J. Volpe of Westborough, MA. Mr. Volpe was the Director of Music in the Spencer, Northborough, Southborough, and Medway Schools for forty years before his retirement.
Accompanist- David Rose ~ 1994 to 2018 ~
Mr. David Rose of Shrewsbury, MA, was NACC's accompanist for 24 years. Mr. Rose holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s degree in Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. He is currently an Assistant Vice President for Berkshire Bank in Marlborough as well as a Master piano instructor at Music & Arts in Westborough.
Anthony Volpe and David Rose spent 24 years performing together with NACC when they retired from the chorus together in the spring of 2018. Mr. Volpe passed away in 2020 and is fondly remembered by all who knew him.Mr. David Rose of Shrewsbury, MA, was NACC's accompanist for 24 years. Mr. Rose holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s degree in Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. He is currently an Assistant Vice President for Berkshire Bank in Marlborough as well as a Master piano instructor at Music & Arts in Westborough.
Founder and Director- Anthony Volpe ~1972 to 2018 ~
For 47 years, the group performed under the creative direction of Anthony J. Volpe of Westborough, MA. Mr. Volpe was the Director of Music in the Spencer, Northborough, Southborough, and Medway Schools for forty years before his retirement.
Accompanist- David Rose ~ 1994 to 2018 ~
Mr. David Rose of Shrewsbury, MA, was NACC's accompanist for 24 years. Mr. Rose holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s degree in Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. He is currently an Assistant Vice President for Berkshire Bank in Marlborough as well as a Master piano instructor at Music & Arts in Westborough.
Anthony Volpe and David Rose spent 24 years performing together with NACC when they retired from the chorus together in the spring of 2018. Mr. Volpe passed away in 2020 and is fondly remembered by all who knew him.Mr. David Rose of Shrewsbury, MA, was NACC's accompanist for 24 years. Mr. Rose holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s degree in Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. He is currently an Assistant Vice President for Berkshire Bank in Marlborough as well as a Master piano instructor at Music & Arts in Westborough.
Artistic Director - Elinor A. Armsby ~ 2018 to 2021 ~
Elinor A. Armsby served as Artistic Director of The Northborough Area Community Chorus from the Fall of 2018 to Fall 2021. She has served as Music Director of First Church in Marlborough since 2017 and, before that, was active as a choral conductor and clinician in the Philadelphia area for nearly twenty years. A native of Newton, she is happy to be back in Massachusetts.
While in the Philadelphia area she has served as Artistic Director for the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, Director of Music at First United Methodist Church of Germantown (PA) and Director of Choirs at Philadelphia's Central High School. Ms. Armsby has been praised for her success in working with singers at all levels and her ability to create interesting programs showcasing music from diverse repertoires.
Ms. Armsby received her undergraduate training in voice at Indiana University and her master's degree in Choral Conducting and Music History from Temple University. In addition to her conducting activities, she is an active composer and the owner and president of Hildegard Publishing Company, a publisher of concert music by women composers.
During the 2020 / 2021 pandemic when rehearsal venues were closed and in-person concerts were canceled, Ms. Armsby was instrumental in keeping The Northborough Area Community Chorus singing with Zoom rehearsals, on-line practice tracks and outdoor rehearsals to enable the production of two virtual programs. In her last concert as Artistic Director for the Northborough Area Chorus, Ms. Armsby successfully directed the chorus in presenting “Holly Jolly Holidays”, with the chorus on-stage and performing before an audience for the first time since February of 2020. It was wonderful for both singers and audience to return to a live musical program.
We thank Ms. Armsby for her dedication to The Northborough Area Community Chorus during her tenure as Artistic Director and wish her well in her future endeavors.
While in the Philadelphia area she has served as Artistic Director for the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, Director of Music at First United Methodist Church of Germantown (PA) and Director of Choirs at Philadelphia's Central High School. Ms. Armsby has been praised for her success in working with singers at all levels and her ability to create interesting programs showcasing music from diverse repertoires.
Ms. Armsby received her undergraduate training in voice at Indiana University and her master's degree in Choral Conducting and Music History from Temple University. In addition to her conducting activities, she is an active composer and the owner and president of Hildegard Publishing Company, a publisher of concert music by women composers.
During the 2020 / 2021 pandemic when rehearsal venues were closed and in-person concerts were canceled, Ms. Armsby was instrumental in keeping The Northborough Area Community Chorus singing with Zoom rehearsals, on-line practice tracks and outdoor rehearsals to enable the production of two virtual programs. In her last concert as Artistic Director for the Northborough Area Chorus, Ms. Armsby successfully directed the chorus in presenting “Holly Jolly Holidays”, with the chorus on-stage and performing before an audience for the first time since February of 2020. It was wonderful for both singers and audience to return to a live musical program.
We thank Ms. Armsby for her dedication to The Northborough Area Community Chorus during her tenure as Artistic Director and wish her well in her future endeavors.
Celebrating 50 Years of Music!
