The CAMP Rehoboth Chorus

 

 

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, patrons, and audience who made our Presidents’ Day Weekend concerts such a phenomenal success! All three performances of "The British Are Coming" sold-out two weeks before the first performance. Concerts were held over the three day President's Day weekend at Epworth United Methodist Church. More than 1,250 concertgoers filled the church.

Audiences were enthralled from the rollicking opening of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” through 60 years of British musicians and artists, including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s soaring, moving songs from musicals Phantom of the Opera and Cats, and favorites from Adele’s album 21. The chorus ended the concert by coming down from the risers with electric candles and invited the audience to join in a moving plea for peace singing John Lennon’s “Imagine."


 

Save the dates:

·        Father’s Day weekend, June 14-16, 2024, CAMP Rehoboth Chorus will present "On the Road Again!," a musical travelogue across America.

·        September 27-29, 2024, The ALLIANCE Singers of CAMP Rehoboth Chorus will entertain with three performances its fall show!

 
This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.
 
Sponsorships are available. Please call 302-227-5620 if interested.

 

Thank you for your continued support of the Chorus. Please follow us on social media and on our website for updates.

 

Who We Are

CAMP Rehoboth Chorus is a diverse 100-member community chorus open to all and committed to presenting major, high quality entertainment for audiences throughout the region. It also includes a smaller Ensemble of select singers that perform in smaller venues not able to accommodate the full Chorus. Free outreach concerts are made available throughout the year at senior centers, assisted living and retirement communities and other venues including, the annual World AIDS Day service at All Saints Episcopal Church, the Rehoboth Farmers Market, the Rehoboth Art League annual open house, and Senator Carper’s Annual Holiday Toys for Tots fundraiser. Like CAMP Rehoboth, we are an inclusive community with a diverse and enthusiastic mix of LGBTQ, straight, young, older, single and married singers from all walks of life and levels of musical training and experience.

Mission

As a program of CAMP Rehoboth, the Chorus, founded in 2009, reflects CAMP’s vision to “Create a More Positive Rehoboth” by reaching out to all, celebrating LGBTQ diversity, and bringing the community together through the power of song.  The Chorus strives to provide the highest quality vocal music and entertainment to help promote cooperation, understanding, and inclusivity within the Chorus and throughout the community, regardless of race, gender, religion, age, physical abilities, or sexual orientation. Because music touches hearts in ways words alone never will, the chorus supports “Music and Memory,” a charity that enriches the lives of elderly and infirm people by providing each of them with an MP3 player that contains musical playlist based on their personal history and musical preferences.

For information email the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus

Become a Sponsor of the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus

CAMP Rehoboth Chorus Handbook and Guidelines

Music Makers

Doug 2020 Head shot

Doug Yetter – Musical & Artistic Director

DOUG has enjoyed a lifetime in the arts as a conductor, arranger, composer, actor, director, and producer. He has nine published works for the musical theater (two having been produced off-Broadway), and an opera to his credit. In addition to his work with CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, he is the Director of Music Ministries for Epworth United Methodist, as well as co-founder and Artistic Director emeritus of the Clear Space Theatre Company. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland where he received his Bachelor of Arts in composition. He received and his Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Writing from New York University. Doug is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, the American Federation of Musicians, the American Guild of Organists, and the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP).

Zipse 2020 Head shot

David Zipse – Collaborative Artist & Accompanist

DAVE has an extensive and varied musical background as a solo performer, accompanist, conductor, and producer.  He graduated summa cum laude from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music with a degree in Music Composition.  He is renowned for his vast repertoire over 1000 memorized songs and prides himself on being able to play most any request.  He has accompanied and acted with Opera Delaware in several productions, including the starring (and title) role of Gershwin, By George! at Wilmington’s Chase Center on the Riverfront, where he was acclaimed a “virtuoso” by critics.  DAVE is a popular performer in area restaurants and clubs and at the Rehoboth Jazz Festival.  He continues to work as music director and accompanist for musicals and shows.

Jeff Buhrman – Assistant Director

Jeff was a teacher, high school choral director and school counselor for 25 years before moving into the LGBTQA+ choral movement. He was artistic director/conductor of the Gay Men’s Chorusof Washington, DC, for 15 years, leading the group in performances at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and concert venues around the country. Under his leadership, GMCW sang at the Kennedy Center Honors celebrating Elizabeth Taylor in 2002 and Jerry Herman in 2010. In 2009 Mr. Buhrman led the group in a concert at the Lincoln Memorial during the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

David Kemper – Sectional and Outreach Accompanist

DAVE grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he discovered his musical talents at an early age.  He began piano lessons at age eight and quickly found himself accompanying (and singing in) area choirs and choruses.  After 30 years in public education, in 2012 he retired to Rehoboth Beach and currently serves as the director of music at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church in Bethany Beach and is on the board of the American Guild of Organists.  Dave continues to provide accompaniment and musical direction for local theater productions.  His true claim to fame is being the fourth-grade teacher of two-time Tony Award nominee Jonathan Groff.

Producers

Larry Barry 2020 program shot

Larry Rosen & Barry Bugg – Production Managers

LARRY and BARRY serve as Production Managers for the Chorus after 20 years of serving the same role for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC.  Barry also worked and volunteered in theater and choral production for nearly 10 years prior to his work with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC.  They coordinate with Doug about stage performance, prepare concert venues for performances, coordinate any necessary costuming, direct staging, and manage the sound and lighting.  

The Chorus is fortunate to have such a talented and experienced team leading it.

*Photos by Murray Archibald, except for Jeff Buhrman's photo. 

Organization and Management

The overall policy and direction of the Chorus is governed by a Leadership Committee consisting of seven (7) Chorus members who are elected by the membership, receive no compensation, and are dedicated to the community enrichment and outreach purposes for which the Chorus was founded.  

The Leadership Committee:

Dave Scuccimarra (Chair)
Judy Olsen (Treasurer)
Dianna Johnston
Bill Fuchs
Gloria Richards
Carolyn Laurenzo
Travis Stevens

 

Section Leaders:  Section leaders promote artistic excellence by providing the critical communication link between chorus members and musical and other leadership. For example, they assure that their section members are kept apprised of program expectations and information, track attendance, and arrange sectional rehearsals. They also coordinate with other section leaders to assure consistency throughout the organization. 

Alto: Linda Porto

Bass: Ron Parks 

Soprano: Gail Hecky 

Tenor: David Kemper

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on  www.DelawareScene.com. Additional support comes from donors and advertisers. For more information, call 302-227-5620.