Southern Delaware Chorale to hold annual Potluck Aug. 26

The newly renamed Southern Delaware Chorale will hold its annual Potluck get-together from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 203 N. Bedford St. in Georgetown. Members from the past season and interested new singers will have a chance to meet SDC’s new Artistic Director Joey Shortall at this preseason event.

Board President Beth Maurer said, “For many years, people have frequently confused Southern Delaware Choral Society with another great organization, the Delaware Choral Society, based in Dover. At our annual retreat in July, we agreed that this year is an ideal time to shorten our name and freshen our brand. We have just hired an exciting young conductor, and we anticipate his arrival will energize and reinspire our group.”

Shortall, who has family ties to the Eastern Shore, recently completed his graduate degree at the University of Maryland, where he taught music education, performance and conducting courses. He has a broad background that includes community, church and professional choir direction. One of the groups for whom Shortall serves as an assistant conductor, the Maryland State Boychoir, just gave a performance in Georgetown prior to departing for a European concert tour.

“I feel that directing a community choir is the next step in my career. Because of my varied experiences with youth, community and collegiate choirs, I believe that I can continue to grow the size of the ensemble and maintain the quality musicianship of the Southern Delaware Choral Society,” said Shortall.

Southern Delaware Chorale plans to present its holiday concert, "A Celebration of Christmas," featuring Christmas music through the ages and from a variety of musical traditions, at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, at at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. Also, in keeping with a tradition that was part of the genesis of this group, there will be a Handel’s "Messiah" sing-along at Bethel United Methodist Church in Lewes at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21.

Singers of any age and ability are welcome to participate; musical scores available for the public to borrow. For more information about SDC, consult southerndelawarechoralsociety.org. The chorale will have a new web address later this year, though SDC will be reachable at the old web address for some time to come.