The History of AVM
In November of 1977, Director Robert Eaton noticed a significant absence of choruses in the Northborough/Marlborough (Massachusetts) area dedicated to the performance of classical choral music. After discussion with a few musical friends, he decided to put out a call for interested singers to attend a rehearsal. The result was that in May 1978, twenty-eight singers presented in concert Mozart's Requiem and Bach's cantata Ein Feste Burg. Organ accompaniment was used and the concert was held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shrewsbury.
At first the Mastersingers performed two concerts a year using organ and some soloists from within the ensemble. In 1980, the first "Messiah Sing" was presented - and this has continued to be an annual tradition. In May 1981, the first concert with orchestra was presented utilizing local area musicians at a very modest wage scale. In addition, the chorus collaborated with the Marlborough Symphony in a presentation of La Traviata. Other collaborations over the years have included Symphony Pro Musica, Worcester Polytechnic Brass Ensemble, UMass Percussion Ensemble, Algonquin Regional High School Chorus, Westborough High School Chorus, and Eastern Connecticut Symphony.
The 1983-84 season was the first three-concert season (two of which were with orchestra) in addition to the "Messiah Sing". The 1999-2000 concert season saw orchestra with all three concerts. As the chorus of the Mastersingers grew in size and matured musically, professional soloists were retained and free-lance musicians were used for the orchestra. Both decisions greatly enhanced the quality of the Mastersingers' performances, but it also greatly increased the budget. AVM currently operates on a budget of approximately $50,000.
The Mastersingers has been most noted for its diversity of programming. It was recognized by the Alfred Nash Patterson Foundation for programs that have included the major choral classics as well as contemporary and lesser-known choral masterworks. In March 1996, the Mastersingers commissioned and premiered a major choral work for chorus and orchestra by Gwyneth Walker, River Songs. For the Twentieth Anniversary concert, the Mastersingers commissioned and performed A Song for St. Cecilia by Clifton Noble, Jr.
Mastersingers concerts have been aired on radio stations WCRB, WICN, and WCUW and on cable television in Acton, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Stow, and Westborough.