Members of the Colby Kennebec Choral Society and Colby students sing Schubert’s Stabat Mater in Lorimer Chapel last April. Front from left are Isabella Synnestvedt ’26, Ava Shapiro ’26, Maiko Kawano, Alison Harvey and Tim Rector. Second row from left are Aidan Loth ’26, E.J. Brister ’24, Robert Swegart and Benson Yam ’24. Photo courtesy of Marti Stone Photography

WATERVILLE — The Colby-Kennebec Choral Society invites all interested singers to join it for performances of Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9.

Starting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, rehearsals are scheduled for 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays in the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts on Mayflower Hill Drive at Colby College.

The performances will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, in the Gordon Center’s 300-seat concert hall. Not coincidentally, the Colby performances will occur almost 200 years from the day of the symphony’s world premiere on May 7, 1824, in Vienna, Austria, according to a news release from Gregor Smith for the CKCS Board of Directors.

When it premiered, Beethoven’s final symphony was remarkable for both its length (over an hour) and the size of orchestra required. But Beethoven’s greatest innovation was including a chorus and vocal soloists in the final movement, singing his adaptation of Friedrich Schiller’s poem “An die Freude” (“Ode to Joy”). Previously symphonies had been for instruments alone. Today, Beethoven’s Ninth remains one of his best known and best loved works.

Founded in the 1960s, choral society is a four-part community chorus that performs both classical and contemporary works. The chorus prepares two programs per year: a concert in November of short works of diverse styles and eras but with a common theme, and a choral masterwork in late April or early May performed with the Colby Symphony Orchestra, Colby student choral ensembles, and professional soloists.

The society welcomes both adults and high school students. Neither prior experience nor an audition is needed. The ability to read music is helpful, but not required. Learning tracks and printed scores will be provided. There is no cost to participate.

For more information, contact the director, Dr. Néviton Barros, at nbarros@colby.edu or 207-859-5680.

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