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Voices of the River
Men's Chorus
The Voices of the River is a men's chorus from Lewis County, NY.  We welcome any male to come sing and experience the fellowship of being united in song.  

We rehearse and have our annual concert in summer months at  Lowville Presbyterian Church.  We perform repertoire that range from folk songs and sea shanties to art songs and even a few popular songs from yesteryear to today.  

Due to Covid and Jason relocating to Tennessee, the Voices of the River has been on hiatus, no further plans are in production.
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Folk Roots
Folk Roots came together as a way to commemorate the  return of the chorus to Lowville Presbyterian where the Voices of the River first had their rehearsals and concerts in the late 90s.  Featuring several arrangements by choir members, Director, Jason Matteson wanted to highlight the choir's own strengths and talents while making our connection to the venue and our "roots" more sincere.  Loch Lomond was also written by one of our members, Michael White, who recently graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in music theory.  The chorus was joined by Luke Vanderlan on smallpipes, Niall Pepper on percussion, Emily Morisette on Flute and our accompanist, Mel Chalker on piano.  It was a perfect evening and a brilliant concert!

2019 Concert Program
         Tha Mi Sgith .... trad., arr. Matteson
         Skye Boat Song .... trad., arr. Smith
         Loch Lomond .... trad., arr. White
         Bonavist Harbour .... trad., arr. Matteson
         Frobisher Bay .... Gordon, arr. Ayers
         The Wild Rover .... trad., arr. Matteson
         Star of the County Down .... trad., arr. Matteson
         Bile them Cabbage Down .... trad., arr. Kupferschmidt
         Blowin' in the Wind .... Dylan, arr. Peter, Paul & Mary, arr. Matteson
         Sixteen Tons .... Travis, arr. K. Shaw
         Daddy Sang Bass .... Perkins, arr. Matteson


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Sure on this Shining Night
The Voices of the River performed this years concert on a warm and balmy August 16th evening.  The theme of of this year's concert was centered around life and the themes we continually experience through-out our lives.  Themes of home, love, togetherness blend with themes of independence, explorations, grief and many more to create a life that through our experiences, lead us to question our existence and our place in this universe, ever sailing from one untraveled world to the next.  The Voices of the River were pleased to have join them some ladies of the Adirondack Community Chorus to help with a few pieces.​

2018 Concert Program
       Come Travel with Me .... Farthing
       Linden Lea .... Vaughan Williams
       If You've Only Got a Mustache .... Foster
       Serenade .... Read
       My Hearts in the Highlands .... Wagner
       Northwest Passage .... Rogers
       Sure on this Shining Night .... Lauridson
       When I was One and Twenty .... Butler
       Song for the Mira .... MacGillivray
       Omnia Sol .... Stroope
       Always Look on the Bright Side of Life .... Idle, arr. Matteson
       SoulSpeak .... Stroope

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Tenting Tonight
The American Civil War was one of the most tumultuous and divisive periods in our brief history as a nation.  In Tenting Tonight the Voices of the River offer a musical tour of the war from the Antebellum all the way to the Appomattox Courthouse.  This musical portrait encapsulates the sadness of war, those who don't return, glories on the battlefield and the sometimes frivolous nature of the campground.   The Voices of the River were pleased to have joining them, Claire Haile in singing the Vacant Chair and members of the Remsen High School Trumpet Choir.

2017 Concert Program
          Idumea ... Davisson
          Dixie ....    Emmett, arr. Matteson for Trumpet quartet and piano
          Go Down Moses .... Helder
          All Quiet Along the Potomac .... Hewitt, arr. Matteson
          Battle Cry of Freedom .... Root, arr. Cole
          Tenting Tonight .... Kittredge, arr. Van Camp
          When Johnny Comes Marching Home .... Gilmore
          The Vacant Chair .... Root
          The Sword of Bunker Hill .... Wallace, arr. Armstrong
          Goober Peas ..... Pinder & Nutt, arr. Matteson
​          The Battle Hymn of the Republic .... Wilhousky




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I'm Going Away
What better way to re-establish a men's chorus than with sea shanties, and songs of the sea and water.  Full of vibrancy and spirit these pieces came together to create an image of life on the sea; the troubles, heartache and yearning that one can experience.

2016 Concert Program
       Spanish Ladies .... arr. Matteson
       Barrett's Privateers ... Rogers
       I'm Bound for the Rio Grande .... arr. Crocker
       I'm Bound Away .... arr. Moore
       Farewell to Nova Scotia .... arr. Matteson
       Dive the River Down .... Printz
       Shenandoah ....  Arr. Matteson
       What Shall We Do With  a Drunken Sailor .... arr. Shaw
       Crossing the Bar .... Walker




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