Valley Chorus holds benefit for Habitat for Humanity

By C.J. Marshall (Staff Writer - The Daily Review, Towanda, PA) - Published: January 31, 2011

The strains of classical, popular, country and Broadway filled the auditorium of the Sayre Theatre on Sunday as members of the Valley Chorus put on a program of music and fun to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Belle DeLill, director of the Valley Chorus, explained that the benefit is the group's first major fundraiser.

"All the money is going to Habitat for Humanity," DeLill said, explaining that all the expenses - such as the renting of the theatre, have already been paid for by participating members as well as other people. This helped them keep the cost of the tickets down, DeLill said.

"We felt that $10 a ticket would be something that people would come out for," she explained.  The reason for the benefit, DeLill said, is allow the Valley Chorus to provide a service to the community. She explained that government grants and other similar sources of revenue are drying up, and they want to try to fill the gap.

"You can't depend on government grants any more," she explained. "Especially in the arts."

Performances included "Ol' Man River," by Joe Blood; "They Can't Take That Away From Me," by Peggy Tracy; "You'll Never Walk Alone," by Sandy Edsell, Cindy Jones, Jack Patterson, and John Liechty; and "Summertime" by Rosanette Abrams. Guest instrumentals were performed by John Manfredi, Toni Bamiano, Dave Zimmerman, Corky Klinko and Belle DeLill.

"The Valley Chorus is a wonderful organization," DeLill explained. "We have people who come together once a week. The group was organized back in 1955, and gave its first performance in 1956.

DeLill explained that the Valley Chorus puts on productions twice a year for the community. In the Spring, around Mother's Day, she said, their production will be "Broadway, All Ways."

"We're going to feature music from barbershop quartets all the way up to hall concerts," she said. "We want to give the community a taste of serious music, along with some major fun stuff like the Boston Pops. In Spring 2012 we're doing to do a patriotic theme. We try to vary it up."

What makes the Valley Chorus unique in the area, DeLill explained, is the variety of music the group offers. Many musical organizations offer a limited selection of music to perform, but the Valley Chorus allows its people to try many different kinds of music, she said.

The group is open to people from all walks of life, DeLill said.  "All you have to do is come and pay your $10," DeLill said. "You don't even have to audition."  She said that they have one performer who is 15 years old whose father drives her up from Dushore.  "We have a lot of people from within a 60 to 70 mile radius (of the Valley)," DeLill explained.