IN THE NORTHEASTERN CORRIDOR OF PENNSYLVANIA'S SCENIC BRADFORD COUNTY, JUST SOUTH OF THE NEW YORK STATE BORDER;  THE HISTORIC VILLAGES OF ATHENS AND SAYRE, PENNSYLVANIA  AND WAVERLY, NEW YORK LIE PEACEFULLY NESTLED BETWEEN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER TO OUR EAST, AND THE CHEMUNG RIVER TO OUR WEST.
 
                   
         
         GENTLY FLOWING BENEATH THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE RIDGE ENDLESS MOUNTAINS WHICH SURROUND OUR PICTURESQUE VALLEY; THESE TWO RIVERS EVENTUALLY MERGE AT HISTORIC TIOGA POINT JUST SOUTH OF ATHENS AND BECOME THE MIGHTY SUSQUEHANNA RIVER.   THIS  BEAUTIFUL AREA WE CALL HOME IS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS  "THE VALLEY"; HENCE THE NAME OF OUR ORGANIZATION, "THE VALLEY CHORUS".

        

       SAYRE, PENNSYLVANIA IS RICH IN RAILROAD HISTORY.  THE FORMER LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD YARDS IN SAYRE PROUDLY SERVED AS A MAJOR BUILDING FACILITY OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVES AND ROLLING STOCK OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD.   THE LEHIGH VALLEY TRAIN STATION IN SAYRE HAS BEEN BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED AND NOW SERVES AS A HISTORIC MUSEUM TO OUR COMMUNITY.  TODAY, THE GUTHRIE CLINIC AND ROBERT PACKER HOSPITAL CAMPUS IN SAYRE SERVES AS ONE OF OUR AREAS LEADING MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITIES.

                  
     
         FORMERLY KNOWN AS TIOGA; ATHENS, PENNSYLVANIA IS EQUALLY RICH IN HISTORY.   THE FAMOUS AMERICAN COMPOSER, STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER (1826-1864) ATTENDED THE ATHENS ACADEMY HERE FROM 1839 TO 1841.  AT THE AGE OF 13, FOSTER WROTE HIS VERY FIRST SONG EVER RIGHT HERE IN ATHENS, "THE TIOGA WALTZ" WHICH HE COMPOSED FOR FOUR FLUTES.  ON APRIL 1, 1841, THE ATHENS ACADEMY HELD AN EXHIBITION IN THE ATHENS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WHICH WAS THE ONLY HOUSE OF WORSHIP IN ATHENS AT THAT TIME.  IT WAS AT THE ATHENS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH THAT STEPHEN FOSTER FIRST GAVE PUBLICITY TO HIS EFFORTS AS A COMPOSER.  HE ALSO PERFORMED THIS PIECE AT THE SCHOOL'S 1841 COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.  THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD ALSO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE HISTORY OF ATHENS, PA.   A HOUSE STILL STANDS ON SOUTH MAIN STREET THAT WAS USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

                         
        
        THE VALLEY CHORUS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1955 AS A NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION AND HAS BEEN A VITAL PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 57 YEARS.   THE VALLEY CHORUS IS COMPRISED OF NON-PROFESSIONAL SINGERS ASSEMBLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING ALL STYLES OF VOCAL MUSIC.   MEMBERSHIP IN THE VALLEY CHORUS IS SEASONAL AND OPEN TO ANYONE 15 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.   THE VALLEY CHORUS PROVIDES A MEDIA OUTLET FOR QUALITY VOCAL MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT WHILE ENRICHING THE LIVES OF ITS MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, PERFORMANCE AND A TRADITION OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.