With the holiday season over and winter promising to be around for a while, the Depot Lane Singers are offering interested singers the opportunity to escape cabin fever as they begin to practice for their spring concerts. Not only is getting off the couch good for everyone, the experience of singing in a choir has been proven to be beneficial to a healthy body and sound mind.

The Depot Lane Singers are a community chorus of 60 to 70 members. Although the group is based in Schoharie, members come from Albany, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie counties.

Rehearsals for the spring concert programs will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 17, and will be held at the Depot Lane Theatre building in Schoharie, beginning at 7:30 p.m.  The theme for the spring concert is “For The Good Times,” a concert of remembering and sharing. Selections will contain a mix of the familiar and unfamiliar, remembering songs from past years and a sharing of music new to the singers.

The Depot Lane Singers will present two performances of the program. Concerts are scheduled for Friday, May 5, at the Duanesburg Reformed Presbyterian Church, and Saturday, May 6, at Schoharie High School.  Both concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Depot Lane Singers were founded by the late Frances B. Tripp in September 1979 after her retirement from teaching music at Schoharie High School.  Currently directed and conducted by Mitch Haverly, the Singers are in their 38th year of music making.  The chorus will be accompanied by Rhea Dawn Owens from Middleburgh.

Guest artist Leonard Tobler, a retired music teacher, will assist with percussion on several of the selections. Tobler is from Voorheesville and has been a frequent guest artist for the Depot Lane Singers. He has performed as a percussionist with the Albany, Schenectady, Utica, and Catskill symphony orchestras, as well as with the New York City Opera Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. In addition, Tobler has been a percussionist for area appearances of the Three Irish Tenors and Aretha Franklin.

The Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association sponsors the Depot Lane Singers, and a portion of the proceeds from its programs are given to the association.

The Depot Lane Singers encourage anyone who enjoys singing to join the group. Students who are in ninth grade or above are invited to sing. Although there are no auditions and experience is not required, it should be noted that the chorus sings in harmonies that can include up to eight separate parts.  Practice CDs are provided to assist singers in learning the music.

Anyone wishing more information may contact Haverly by phone at (518) 872-2682, or by email at mitchellh2@aol.com.

Editor’s note: Robert Holt is the president of the Depot Lane Singers.