ENFIELD — For 50 years, the Enfield Community Chorus has brought singers together to share their love of music and bring music to the wider Enfield community. The chorus has grown into a beloved local tradition that welcomes singers from Enfield and surrounding towns.
“The Enfield Community Chorus is so excited to be celebrating our 50th anniversary this year,” said Emily Clifford, president of the chorus. “Alice Allen and Joyce Young founded the group in 1976 as a part of Enfield’s celebration of America’s Bicentennial, and everyone had so much fun that they decided to keep singing together.”
That spirit of enjoyment and connection remains central to the organization five decades later. While the chorus is known for its popular winter holiday concerts, its role in the community extends well beyond performances.
“The ECC plays many roles in the community,” Clifford said. “First, it draws members from all surrounding towns as well as Enfield, and gives people an important opportunity to reconnect with their love of group singing, and make time for music in their busy lives.”
For many members, joining the chorus is also an opportunity to build friendships and rediscover a musical passion. Clifford said new members frequently tell her how much they have missed being part of a chorus. The social and cognitive benefits of singing add another dimension to the experience, creating a sense of camaraderie as members work together toward a shared performance.
The chorus’s concerts also provide a musical tradition for the community. “Our winter holiday concerts are a popular tradition for the townspeople get to take a break from rushing around and enjoy the magic of the season through beautiful music, right here in Enfield,” Clifford said.
This anniversary year has brought an additional milestone. The chorus added a spring concert season in 2026. Its “Stars, Stripes, and Song” program featured American favorites and a patriotic salute, giving the organization two full singing seasons in its 50th year.
Music Director Juliane LaRocca has also created a special way to celebrate the chorus’s history in its upcoming concert. She selected one piece from a cantata the chorus performed in each decade of its existence — from the 1970s through the present — and stitched the selections together into a single compilation.
“I think it will be a beautiful way to end the concert, looking back over the years and the music we’ve performed,” LaRocca said.
The chorus is also notably inclusive. It does not hold formal auditions. Instead, members receive a one-on-one placement with LaRocca after rehearsals begin. While some ability to read music and previous group-singing experience are recommended, LaRocca encourages anyone interested to attend and see what the group is about.
“You’ll never know if you don’t try,” she said.
For Clifford, the welcoming atmosphere is one of the things that makes the chorus special. When she joined in 2011, she knew no one, but quickly found fellow singers to be friendly and helpful. Over time, rehearsals transform individual voices into the four-part blend that defines choral singing.
“The concerts are really special because you see family and friends and fans in the audience,” Clifford said.
The chorus’s first two rehearsals, Sept. 14 and 21, will be open houses for newcomers interested in learning more. Those who would rather support the group without singing can also volunteer. Local businesses interested in supporting community music can contact the chorus about sponsorship opportunities.
After five decades, the Enfield Community Chorus continues to demonstrate that community music is about more than the final performance. It is about making time to sing, forming friendships, preserving traditions and giving neighbors a reason to gather together.
