To the editor:
Over the past several years I have attended all but one concert by the Aroostook River Voices in Ashland. These take place in the Ashland School District’s comfortable auditorium. I must say that after each one, I thought it could not get any better than this but it did. The performance they put on Jan.12 was the best yet. This diversified group of music lovers are mostly from Ashland and Portage but some come from surrounding communities throughout Aroostook County. The age range goes from pre-school to almost 90 (I am guessing, I don’t dare ask). One family has three generations taking part and another has the entire family — mother, father, son and daughter performing.
Larry Hall is the amazing man who started this group and unless you have been to one of these concerts, you will not believe the sounds he can get from these people. Several music teachers and musicians from surrounding schools, as well as Ashland’s own music teacher, help Larry to make these concerts such successes. The emcee this year, Mrs. Ward, did a wonderful job.
In the past, the choral group performed the entire program as a group. This year the focus was on individual or small group performances. We heard everything from Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender,” to Les Miserables’ “I Dreamed a Dream,” to a brass version of “Blueberry Hill,” to the patriotic ending number.
Larry reserves the last number of every concert exclusively to honor all veterans, past and present. This years’ tribute to our armed forces was a spectacular rendition by the choir of the “Star Spangled Banner” accompanied by background lights and sounds to mimic the battle which inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem.
Thank you to Larry Hall and everyone involved in putting these concerts together for providing our community with this awesome entertainment.
Anita Theriault
Portage Lake
