The Sycamore Community Singers is an auditioned adult volunteer community choir based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 2016 by choral director Linda Gartner, the SCS performs sacred and secular vocal music with emphasis on excellence, camaraderie and fun! They have regular concerts in December and June. Recently, 40 members of the choir embarked on a ten-day performance tour of Austria and Germany, which included Salzburg, Rothenberg, Regensburg, and Munich. The Sycamore Community Singers have also been invited to participate in the Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) concert project at Carnegie Hall in February 2020. The performance will be a major collaboration with composer and conductor Mack Wilberg, director of the world-renowned Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This concert will be a celebration of Mr. Wilberg’s music and will feature a full professional orchestra and a massed chorus made up of choirs from across the country.
Linda Gartner, director of the Sycamore Community Singers, has called Cincinnati her home for 37 years. As a retired junior high teacher from the Sycamore Community School District, Gartner knew that she wanted to give back to the very supportive community, so she formed the Sycamore Community Singers. In addition to her teaching and the SCS, Linda also founded and directed the Sycamore Community Summer Singers.
Alex Thio has served as the accompanist for the ensemble for almost 18 years. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College‐Conservatory of Music and is a piano performance and music theory teacher in the Cincinnati area.
The board of directors includes Linda Gartner, Diane McKinnon, Lora Swedberg, Alex Thio, and Josh Werthaiser.
Holiday Classics Concert, December 2016
Sing We Now of Christmas, arr. Mark Hayes; Comfort Ye, My People, George Frideric Handel; And the Glory of the Lord, George Frideric Handel, Deck the Halls, Traditional; In the Bleak Midwinter, Christina Rossetti & Gustav Holst; Tidings of Joy!, arr. Lloyd Larson; Bashana Haba’ah, arr. John Leavitt; Hope for Resolution, arr. Paul Caldwell & Sean Ivory; African Noels, arr. André J. Thomas; The Christmas Song, arr. Mark Hayes; Jingle Bells, arr. Jack Gold & Mary Paich; The Lord Bless You and Keep You, Peter Lutkin
American Classics June 2017
The Star-Spangled Banner, arr. Russell Robinson; The Last Words of David, Randall Thompson; Grace, arr. Mark Hayes; Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit, arr. William L. Dawson; Down to the River to Pray, arr. Alex Thio; When the Saints Go Marching In, arr. John Rutter; Shenandoah, arr. Mack Wilberg; I Bought Me a Cat, Aaron Copland; Summertime, George Gershwin; I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, arr. Roger Payne; Song for the Unsung Hero, Joseph M. Martin; I’m a Believer from “Shrek,” arr. Mark Brymer; Fun, Fun, Fun, arr. Roger Emerson; What a Wonderful World, arr. Mark Brymer; Let There Be Peace, Andy Beck
Sounds of the Season December 2017
Sing We Now of Christmas, arr. Mark Hayes; Adoramus Te, Giovanni Palestrina; Magnificat, Giovanni Pergolesi; Ding! Dong! Merrily on High, arr. Mack Willberg; Child of Peace, David Waggoner; A Celtic Silent Night, arr. Patrick Tierney; Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, John Gardner; Hanukkah Song, arr. Vicki Tucker Courtney; Ain’-a That Good News? William Dawson; Mele Kalikimaka, arr. Jay Althouse; Twelve Days of Regifted Christmas, arr. Greg Gilpin; The Lord Bless You and Keep You, Peter Lutkin
Broadway Nights – June 2018
It’s a Grand Night for Singing from “State Fair,” arr. Rubino; Old Devil Moon from “Finian’s Rainbow,” arr. Mac Huff; Anything You Can Do from “Annie Get Your Gun,” arr. Anita Kerr; Seize the Day from “Newsies,” arr. Roger Emerson; Wheels of a Dream from “Ragtime,” arr. John Leavitt; All I Do Is Dream of You from “Singing in the Rain,” Herb Brown & Arthur Freed; Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You from “Jersey Boys,” arr. Ed Lojeski; Popular from “Wicked,” Stephen Schwartz, arr. Mac Huff
European Tour 2018
Sing dem Herrn, Praetorius; Adoramus Te, Giovanni Palestrina; Magnificat, Giovanni Pergolesi; Ain’-a That Good News?, William Dawson; Grace, Mark Hayes; When the Saints Go Marching In, John Rutter; Bashana Haba’ah, Ehud Manor & Nurit Hirsch; Down to the River to Pray, Traditional; Whistle, Maggie, Whistle, David Stocker; Agony from “Into the Woods,” Stephen Sondheim; Fun, Fun, Fun, arr. Roger Emerson; What a Wonderful World, arr. Mark Brymer; The Lord Bless You and Keep You, Peter Lutkin; Let There Be Peace, Andy Beck
