Milford chronicle., 1953-05-15
Kiwanis Club To Pre-
sent SeafOrd Choir

The program, which is to be
presented on Monday, May IS, in
the Milford High School by the Sea-
ford Symphonic Choir, under the
sponsorship of the Milford Kiwanis
Club, will be quite varied in it's
music. Among the numbers to be
sung by the choir, of outstanding
interest is it's concertized version
Of Gounod's popular and melodic
opera masterpiece, Faust" which
contains such well-knOwn music
as the familiar Soldiers Chorus"
with its stirring words, GLORY and
love to the men of old-their sons
may copy their virtues bold :"
In addition, the choir will do a
group of Negro spirituals contain
ing familiar and unfamiliar tunes
of different moods, such as the
swingy "Shadrack," and the quiet
er, cOntemplative, "SOOn I'm Coin
Home" Another group of choral
numbers will contain familiar light
classics, such as "Romany Life"
and Under the Southern Sky"
Featured sOlOists in the chorus
numbers will be Marie Parker,
Evelyn Swanson, Irene Rickart,
and Virginia Duffett, sopranos:
William James and Ben Hurley.
basses; and Warren James, tenor.
The Seaford Symphonic Choir
since its inception in 1916 has es-
tablished itself as a permanent fea-
ture in the cultural life of the com
munity and has become we'll known
throughout the peninsula as one
of the finest groups of its kind.
Under the direction of Julia Her
bert Wilson, of Denton, particular
emphasis has been placed on the
musical education of it's members
and the developing of interpreta-
tive skill in the performance of its
programs. The constantly improv-
ing technique of the group has led
to ever widening demand for an
pearances throughout the Eastern
Shore. This year, the choir will
present this spring concert in Sea
lord, Marion, Md, Milford, and Eas-
ton, Md
The solo spots between the Choir
al groups in this concert will he
occupied by Virginia Dixon Duff
tett, soprano, and F. Warren James.
tenor
Mrs. Duffett has a voice of un-
usual beauty, as we'll as a stage
personality which is most ingrati-
ating. Born in Charleston. s. G.
and graduated from the College of
Charleston, she has studied voice
for eight years under Vernon NVes-
ton of Charleston, Geraldine Ulrich
OF Buffalo, N. Y, and Nine. Schw-
edenberg, of SeafOrd. In addition
to four years experience as a MEM
ber and featured sOlOist with The
SeafOrd Symphonic Choir. Mrs.
Dutfett has also been both member
and solOist with the College of
Charleston Glee Club, the Charles
ton Choral Society, and the Buffalo
Choral Club. She has also done ex-
tenslve church choir work, and has
appeared as sOlOist for the Charles
ton Musical Arts Association and
the Talbot Music Club. Mrs. Duff
fett's solos will include the beauti-
ful and intricate cOlOratura airs.
The Russian Nightingale" by Ala
bieff and LA Danza" by Rossini.
and the humorous song by Mana
yucca, "The Big Brown Bear"
Mr.. James, native of Seaford.
and a charter member of the Sea-
ford Symphonic Choir, is a lyric
tenor with considerable experi-
ence in both solo and choral work.
He was graduated from the Univer-
sity of Delaware, where he receiy-
ed vocal instruction under Marga-
ret Dennis and appeared as mem
Der and soloist with the A-Capella
Choir. For the past five years he
has been a voice student of Nine.
Elvira Schwedenberg, of Seaford
Chairman of the music committee
OF st. Johns Methodist Church. of
Seaford, he has been a long time
member of the choir of that church
and has appeared as guest soloist
IN churches in Delaware, Maryland.
Pennsylvania and, North Carolina
and also for the Talbot Music Club
MIR. James will sing "Ah Moon of
MY Delight" from Lehmann's song
cycle, I'm A PersiOn Garden" has
ed on text from the Rubaiyat of
omar Khayyam. 'Ah, Love. But
Day, beautiful tone poem bv
iSeach' and "A Dream" by Grieg.