Summer Chorus
Summer Chorus
Concert
August 15th, 2025 at 1:00 PM
at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts
Program
Jim Papoulis, Featured Conductor
Christopher B. McGillicuddy, Founder and Artistic Director
Martha Robertson, Conductor
Valerie Thomforde, Conductor
Allyson Cahill, Collaborative Accompanist
Nick LaCava, Percussionist
Star Spangled Banner by John Stafford Smith
Finding the Sunshine by Jim Papoulis
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around Traditional Spiritual arr. Rollo Dilworth
When I Sing by Leeann Starkey
Give Us Hope by Jim Papoulis
Be Who You Are by Ryan Main
We Are Change by CCC Singers & Jim Papoulis
Oye by Jim Papoulis
About Featured Conductor, Jim Papoulis
“As a composer I want to explore what makes us human; what makes us considerate; what makes us accepting of others. Through my work, I travel to many parts of the world and work with young people from all different backgrounds. The focus of my work is primarily to write music that captures the voices of youth, the thoughts of youth, the hopes of youth -- their inner strength woven into the lyrics and rhythms.
When I was first asked to compose music for youth choirs, I attended many concerts to learn more about young people -- what they were singing, what they weren't singing, what might work with their voices. I began a journey that quickly evolved into hundreds of workshops; I asked young singers what they liked about music, what made them passionate about music, what moved them, and what they identified with. I was struck with their desire to break from tradition - to explore worlds of helping others - to share their inner voices - to fuse rhythms and chants and body percussion together with lyrics and melodies that were fun to sing, and that meant something to them. That was the main focus of what they wanted -- for the text to mean something to them, and offer something they could relate to. All of my music for children's choir is sung from the vantage point of the person singing it -- the young people. I do my best to write music that answers that desire -- something meaningful that they can relate to -- and something that can expand their horizons, both lyrically and musically.
Through my workshops, I have had the opportunity to work in both affluent and very underprivileged communities. I've tried to learn what the answer is to breaking from the propagation of any extreme, be it wealth or poverty, and find a way to bring us all to common ground as human beings. Education, music, kindness, encouragement, role models, and community involvement are often at the forefront of finding those solutions. Music, especially in a young person's life, can be a bridge to self empowerment, self esteem, cooperation, commitment, and discipline.
Music is my passion, and music as a vehicle for the creation of a better world is my life's mission. Through the Foundation for Small Voices, we strive to raise awareness and funds for music programs that are suffering, and communities that are without music programs altogether. I firmly believe in the power of music to engage, empower, and inspire young people, and I am dedicated to making joyful and creative musical experiences available to as many young people as possible, and to continue to explore musical worlds that can bridge communities and differences”.
Papoulis has made significant contributions to choral music by revitalizing the choral repertoire with songs whose roots are classical and world, with voicing that incorporates lead vocalists with choirs, vocal percussion, and world rhythms.
His choral work often is sung from the perspective of the singer, and is constantly inspired by the work he does through the foundation for small voices. He firmly believes that music can heal, educate, celebrate, and empower the lives of children.
Through the Foundation for Small Voices he has conducted songwriting workshops with choirs from the United States, China, Japan, Tanzania, Mexico, Kenya, Newfoundland, Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Haiti, England, Norway, Canada, Spain, Italy, Kenya, Uganda, Turkey, Brazil, France, Ireland, Bosnia, Jordan, Australia, Holland, Dubai, and Greece.
He has worked with choirs and ensembles on all continents and from all walks of life, and has also worked with: Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Beyonce, the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, London Boys Choir, London Symphony, Beijing Children's Choir, Faith Hill, Natalie Cole, Snoop Dogg, Imagine Dragons,Tokyo String Quartet, Moscow Philharmonic, Portland Symphony, New World Symphony
His music has been featured at:
2019 Carifesta Port of Spain, TRINIDAD
GIVE US HOPE on permanent exhibit at the 911 Museum in New York
9.11 10th Anniversary Concerts throughout the world including New York, Moscow, Tokyo, Beijing, London, Oslo, Paris, Shanghai, Rio, Rome, Salzburg, St. Petersburg, Dubai, Delhi, Oslo, Paris
BEIJING OLYMPICS
2008 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION
POPE VISIT televised nationally at YANKEE STADIUM
WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA 2010
Singers
Olivia Baxter, Clara Burns, Scarlett Burns, Madison Chin, Nora Conlin, Emma Cushing, Connor Dacier, Siona Dowdy, Justin Ellis, Samantha Ellis, Camila Garcia, Madeleine Keenan, Emily Kerrigan, Hayden Knox, Norah Knox, Lulu Martinez, Milena Nevarez Camacho, Charlotte Nimz, Avery Palomaki, Andrew Remick, Vivian Rosenzweig, Anagha Sandeep, Juliana Soutra
Thank You Donors
Susan Bishov
The Chelmsford Cultural Council
Sandeep Family
The Dacey Zouzas Endowment for the Arts
Pridestar Trinity EMS