By: Concentus
As we enter our 25th season, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the years that got us to this point.
Gwen Gassler and Edna Yeh founded Concentus Women’s Chorus in 2000. Soon after, Edna departed Rochester and Gwen grew the group from infancy to adulthood. Concentus has always been fortunate to have singers who are also skilled and willing to pitch in non-musically. In 2004, Concentus was established as 501(c)(3) with a hands-on Board of Directors that continues to help set strategy and support the musical director in various administrative tasks. These include helping organize concert logistics, handling the finances, and managing social media.
In 2014, Gwen and singer Kathy Grant paved the way for a long-standing relationship with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). We have performed Holst’s The Planets three times and Debussy’s Nocturnes two times with the RPO, most recently on the same concert. We were also featured guest performers at a Sunday concert at Hochstein.
Gwen was instrumental in securing many exciting opportunities for Concentus, including: performing on WXXI’s Backstage Pass program twice, singing at the National Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon in 2005, and working with the Board to write grants that provided Concentus with funding for an enhanced website and for commissioning a piece by Caroline Mallonee called “The Right and True.” Gwen became Director Emerita in 2019, and her legacy continues under the direction of Anna Atwater, who also sings with the group.
Since Anna’s promotion, Concentus has traveled to Kent, England to collaborate with Vox Anima Chamber Choir and we are actively planning to host them here in the States in the near future. Our most recent concerts in June honored the work of Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services (RRRS), and we were excited that our audience donated almost $5,000 for the work of that organization. We are continuing our relationship with RRRS by providing guidance to help Afghan women find their own voices in song, per their request.
To date, Concentus has presented or collaborated on over 100 programs of music. While the group consistently maintains a size of 16-22 singers, over 90 individual singers have participated over the past two-plus decades. Some have returned over the years as alumnae singers for special occasions, and we are hoping that many of them will join us for our upcoming January concerts, “i’m happy because i sing.” We hope you will save the dates, too!
Friday, January 10, 2025: 7pm at The Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word
Saturday, January 11, 2025: 3pm at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford
These concerts will not only be a celebration of Concentus’ 25th season (so of course there will be post-concert receptions!), but also a celebration of Director Anna Atwater’s 35th birthday and longtime singer and board member Maggie Symington’s 65th birthday. To help get the next 25 years off to a great start, Maggie and Charlie Symington will be matching all donations of $25 or more from September through January, up to a total of $2,500. To make a donation, you may send a check to Concentus at PO Box 10514, Rochester, NY 14610, or click the button below.
Concentus Women's Chorus 