Quabbin Valley Pro Musica (QVPM) is a community chorus based in New Salem, MA. Geoff Hudson is the Music Director; Judy Johnson is the Collaborative Pianist. New singers are always welcome. The material is primarily drawn from classical choral works; modern compositions and folk or world music are occasionally included as well.
New Members are Welcome to Join Us Rehearsals are on Monday nights in New Salem; ending concerts are generally held at 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem in early June and at Orange Central Congregational Church in late January or early February. If you are interested in joining please contact Geoff Hudson at hudsongs@earthlink.net.
Local Cultural Council Support We are very grateful for the support of Local Cultural Councils of towns of Amherst, Athol, New Salem, Orange, Pelham, Petersham, Royalston, Shutesbury, and Wendell. Grants from local cultural councils and the Mass Cultural Council for 1794 Meetinghouse as a whole are vital to our financial success; chorus dues, ticket sales, and concert sponsorships are insufficient to cover all of our expenses. Our chorus members and our audience come from towns throughout the region; we greatly appreciate the support of these local cultural councils to make this possible.
Current Chorus Covid Requirements Everyone at QVPM rehearsals must be fully vaccinated (including at least one booster for adults); please bring proof of vaccination to your first rehearsal. Masks will be worn for rehearsals and the performance. Everyone will stand further apart than usual, with windows open as much as possible to maximize ventilation, and there will be a longer break in the middle of rehearsals. All members are asked to stay home if they’ve been exposed to someone with Covid or are feeling anything that might be construed as Covid symptoms.
Dues QVPM Dues are $80 per person per session. This is a sliding scale; please pay what you can. The dues should not be a barrier to participation; come and sing with us regardless of what you pay. Some people are able to pay more; it will work itself out. The most important thing is: if you want to sing, we welcome you to join us! Questions? For more details please contact Geoff Hudson at hudsongs@earthlink.net.
Quabbin Valley Pro Musica Faculty & History
Geoff Hudson — Music Director
Geoffrey Hudson has directed Quabbin Valley Pro Musica since 2017. He also directs the chorus at Greenwood Music Camp’s junior division and serves as music director of Pioneer Valley Cappella in Northampton. He previously directed QVPM from 2001-2007. A composer as well as conductor, his works have been performed across the U.S. and in Europe. His eco-oratorio, A Passion for the Planet, was premiered in June 2019 by the Illuminati Vocal Arts Ensemble. CONCORA, Connecticut’s leading professional chorus, will perform the Passion in Hartford in April 2023.
The Quartet Project, Hudson’s six-volume collection of graduated string quartets, was published in 2015, accompanied by a CD featuring performances by the Chiara, Parker, Miro, Brooklyn Rider, Jupiter, Borromeo, and Apple Hill quartets. In 2017, selections from The Quartet Project were featured at the International Society for Contemporary Music’s “World New Music Days” in Vancouver. He received his undergraduate degrees at Oberlin College, where he studied American history and composition (with Richard Hoffmann), and earned a Master’s in composition at New England Conservatory, where his principal teacher was Malcolm Peyton.
Judy Johnson — Collaborative Pianist
Judy Johnson has been the Collaborative Pianist for the Quabbin Valley Pro Musica since 2011. She has also collaborated with amateur music theater groups, school choirs and shows, church soloists and choirs of all ages, and community choruses in California, Australia and New Hampshire.
Judy ran an independent piano and voice studio for over twenty-five years, and is a former president of the New Hampshire Music Teachers Association. She has accompanied and directed church choirs in Australia and New Hampshire, and is currently the Music Director at Mission Covenant Church in Orange, MA. Judy was the founding director of the Nashua Choral Ensemble, an ambassador group from the then Nashua Symphony Choral Society (now the Symphony NH Chorus), and led this group for eight years. Judy received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from California State University, Sacramento and did graduate studies at Melbourne University in Australia, UMass Dartmouth, UNH Durham and Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.
QVPM History
Atholl Musicale, QVPM’s precursor, was created by Mark Wright in 1988. In 1993 it was renamed Quabbin Valley Pro Musica when it became the resident chorus of the newly formed 1794 Meetinghouse, Inc. Because renovations on the historic Meetinghouse were not yet complete, the first concerts were held in the New Salem’s Central Congregational Church. The first Music Director was Gail Ares-Laraba; she had conducted the Atholl Musicale and continued with the early QVPM. Mark Wright managed the early choir and produced its concerts.
Geoff Hudson was Music Director from September 2001 to June 2007. Charles Heffernan took over from September 2007 to June 2017, and Geoff returned to direct the chorus for a second time in September 2017.