Peggo Hortsmann Hodes will lead her final concert as director of the Songweavers Women’s Chorus on Saturday, April 22 at 5 p.m., when the group presents Seasons of Love at the South Congregational Church in Concord. Hodes has served as the chorus’ director for the past 12 years, and will retire from the role at the end of the CCMS school year.
“Songweavers has always felt like home,” says Hodes. “It’s truly bittersweet. It has been such an anchor to my life for these 12 years. You come to rehearsal, no matter what mood you’re in, and you’re going to leave happy.”
Seasons of Love is a celebration of the 32 song-filled years since Songweavers first began in 1991 and the retirement of Hodes. Songweavers and the Songweaver Drummers will dance, drum, clap, sing, and revel in the seasons of their musical sisterhood. The concert will include the title song from the musical Rent, Iz Kamakawiwo’ole’s medley of “Over the Rainbow” and “Wonderful World” with a small ensemble of ukuleles, as well as two songs written by New Hampshire composers including a premiere of Steve Schuch’s beautiful song “Psalm of Life: A New Ode to Joy,” arranged for Songweavers, and “A Place Called Home” by Kathy Lowe.
“We’ll be performing some of my personal favorite songs that we’ve done, and some songs written by New Hampshire composers, including “A Place Called Home,” the song I arranged for my audition to become director,” says Hodes.
Peggo Horstmann Hodes holds an M.A. in Elementary Education from Lesley College and an M.M. in Vocal Pedagogy from the New England Conservatory. She has been a soloist with the New Hampshire Symphony, Granite State Symphony, Concord Chorale, and the Musicians of Wall Street, and has premiered works written for her by William Fletcher and Thomas Oboe Lee. Her recordings as part of the duo Peggo and Paul have received Parent’s Choice Awards.
Songweavers is New Hampshire’s original women’s community chorus, open without audition to women and teens. Based on the belief that everyone can sing, Songweavers is a coming-together of spirit and heart through music. Begun 30+ years ago by Carolyn Parrott for women who were afraid to sing, it has grown into a joyous chorus of kindred souls. Everyone can sing; it’s a human birthright. When we sing, it makes us happy. It’s a whole-body experience. The vibrations the Songweavers make together as a group are transformative, for individual and group alike. Songweavers is a force of nature, driven by the passion and power of each singer joined in harmony with toe-tapping percussion.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children under 12 or seniors (65+). Tickets can be purchased via credit card at ccmusicschool.org, in person at the Music School or by calling us at 603-228-1196. Please note: no physical tickets will be created for this concert. Once tickets have been purchased (online, by phone or in person) names will be added to our list and checked at the door.