This weekend, Island Community Chorus returns mask-free with the debut of its new director Bill Peek. The annual holiday concert will take place on Saturday and Sunday at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown with accompanists including Molly Sturgis on piano, Jan Hyer on cello, and Mr. Peek on guitar.
This year’s programme, which includes pieces by Bach, Handel and Mendelssohn as well as carols from the West Indies and Argentina, is called Songs for the Season of Light.
“A lot of the pieces deal with themes of light which come up a lot in the holiday season,” Mr. Peek told the Gazette in a phone call. “It’s a theme of advent, Hanukkah, Christmas — you have stars, candles, lamps. But we mostly wanted songs that are fun to sing and enjoyable to perform.”
Last year’s show marked the chorus’s return to live performance, albeit slightly dampened by the mask mandate. This year, after polling chorus members, the group decided that masks would be optional, with a majority of singers opting to perform unmasked.
Mr. Peek took over as director this past September after Peter Boak’s retirement in July. With 40 years of choral experience under his belt, Mr. Peek said he didn’t find the transition particularly difficult, and felt heartened by the camaraderie and community he stepped into.
“We had a rehearsal last night and the heat went out,” he said. “Everyone just bundled up anyway and sang. That to me was really inspiring and I think it was inspiring for the group.
“People always find a way to build a sense of community,” Mr. Peek continued. “It’s such an important part of what choral performance is.”
Although this year’s holiday concert will feature many familiar favorites, Mr. Peek believes audiences might walk away having expanded their holiday repertoire.
“It’s a pretty diverse selection,” he said. “There’s certain things people will recognize, but there’s also a lot that’s new, and I hope people enjoy it.”
The Island Community Chorus performs on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown.
