How harmonious

The Thursday Musicale will welcome a worldly guest next week.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Arts and Entertainment
Published February 1, 2008

It has been 60 years since the members of the first Thursday Musicale got together to sing at the home of Mrs. Donald Ross for their own pleasure and, later, at the historic Hacienda Hotel in downtown New Port Richey for the pleasure of the public.

On Thursday, the now 50-member women's chorus will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a special show and reception at Living Word Church in New Port Richey.

"It will be a mix of classical and love songs," said Maryanne Vollmar-Freeman, first vice president of the group and the person who recruits guest performers.

For this show, the guest artist is baritone Paul Gibson, the son of Musicale member Ann Gibson and a longtime professional singer throughout Europe and the United States.

"Paul has an incredible resume," said Ms. Vollmar-Freeman. A graduate of the University of Miami, he has performed with opera companies in Ohio, New York, Florida, North and South Carolina, and Virginia, and with Deutsche Oper in Berlin and other European cities.

Not only does he sing opera, but as a student, Gibson had lead roles in several Broadway shows, including Godspell, Brigadoon, The Robber Bridegroom,Don't Drink the Water and Mary, Mary.

From 2000 to 2006, he was a Benedictine monk at Priory of Our Lady in Burford, U.K.

Since returning to the United States, he has played the lead in the Richey Suncoast Theatre production of Man of La Mancha and co-starred in the musical Chess. He played the lead in the Stage West Community Playhouse production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? last season.

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After a short stay at the Hacienda Hotel, the Thursday Musicale performed at Community Congregational Church on Orange Lake.

When the group outgrew its auditorium, the members moved to First Baptist Church around the bend, where as many as 1,000 people attended the performances.

Now they perform at 2 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month from October through April at Living Word Church on Rowan Road, where they also rehearse.

The programs range from Broadway tributes to pop tunes, classics, spirituals and other music forms. The director is Henry Fletcher; accompanist is Joan Geschke.

The concerts are free, but the group accepts donations, which go toward scholarships for high school seniors who plan to major in voice, instruments, composition or conducting.

The scholarship winners are guest artists for the group's March 6 concert.

The Jubilee Singers men's chorus will be guest performers at the April 3 concert.

Check it out

Thursday Musicale

Where: Living Word Church, 5151 Rowan Road, New Port Richey.

When: 2 p.m. Thursday.

Tickets: Free, but a donation to the scholarship fund will be accepted.

[Last modified February 1, 2008, 01:33:29]