Festival Celebration Choir

06/17/2026

There are many good reasons to sing in a choir, one of them is to get to know some really wonderful people! Some of our altos were able to get together to have lunch with Brenda A., who was part of this choir from the very first year (1971!), but was unable to make it to the 40th Anniversary Concert. Missy had to leave earlier than the rest of us, so here is a photo she sent to be included. Left to right in group photo: Lois, Brenda, Anna, Jane, Linda, Melissa, Cenzi.

05/20/2026

Many thanks to Barbara Spink for taking these photos at FCCs 40th Anniversary Concert, May 17th.

05/18/2026

Former and Current Directors of the Festival Celebration Choir on the occasion of the choir's 40th Anniversary Concert.

Left to Right: Glenn Osborne (former), Julie Panke (current), Philip Spaeth (former).

05/13/2026

Our fortieth anniversary celebration will be this Sunday. Prepare your body and mind for this future by reaching into the past - 20 years into the past, to be precise. Listen to how, in 2006, Glenn Osborne become the second music director of the Festival Celebration Choir.

04/20/2026

Join us for the 40th Anniversary Festival Celebration Choir Spring Concert on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 3 pm, First United Methodist Church in East Greenbush. We will be celebrating this anniversary by presenting a concert entitled "Love Endures," featuring a commissioned musical score, "Abounding in Love," by Philip Spaeth. Tickets are $20. There will be a reception following. We hope to see you there!

03/03/2026

Why sing in a choir? Festival Celebration Choir is a nonprofit choir that sings sacred music of various religious traditions. It serves an important role in the Capital Region. When you have time, listen to this video that explains the roles church choirs have played in American society. The creator of this video offers statistics on what has happened to church choirs over the years, the functions they have served, why they are so rapidly disappearing, and the consequences of that.

We do have some very vibrant choirs left here in the Albany area ... but many have disappeared. The Festival Celebration Choir remains a place where people can join their voices in communal singing, learn to read music, socialize and enjoy a night out every week. We have singers from many different churches (Roman Catholic, Protestant, Unitarian) and some who do not attend church at all. Some still belong to a church choir ... others attend church where the choir has been done away with. Regardless, we all get together each week to sing music that resonates with us ... that we feel is meaningful.

Think about it and join us! All information can be found on our website: https://festivalcelebrationchoir.org.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2Hhu28J2js

For generations, church choirs were the heartbeat of American worship — voices echoing through small towns, megachurches, and historic cathedrals. But today,...

12/26/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FVu5ftnoy/

Thank you, Anna, for sharing this beautiful rendition of Silent Night on Facebook. We are taking the liberty of sharing it here because we are so proud of your accomplishment. You have a beautiful voice and you share your heart and soul in singing this Christmas carol. We will miss you so much when you move to Brazil in April. We wish you the very best and know that, if you keep singing, you'll be offering the world a huge gift.

(Since there seems to be a problem with the link, trying again: https://www.facebook.com/reel/855251634072461)

If all else fails, search for Anna DeFalco and watch this video on her page. It's definitely worth viewing!!! :-)

12/18/2025

Here are some photos of the combined choirs (First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir and Festival Celebration Choir) at our 2025 Christmas Concert. Photos taken by Barbara Spink.

12/17/2025

The combined choirs of the First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir and the Festival Celebration Choir at our 2025 Christmas Concert, held at First Presbyterian Church, Albany, on December 14, 2025. 'On Common Ground' was the title of this concert, featuring "The Ballad of the Brown King" by Margaret Bonds in the first half and Christmas Carols by Alice Parker in the second half. Michael Lister (First Pres) and Julie Panke (FCC) directed. Many thanks to all involved ... we really enjoyed working together.

12/15/2025

Here is the recording of the December 14th Christmas Concert with the combined choirs of the First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir and the Festival Celebration Choir. Soloists were: Christopher Price (baritone), Savannah Gordon (soprano) and Noel Bond (alto) for The Ballad of the Brown King; and Noel Bond (alto), Joshua Gurwitz for On the Common Ground; followed by Paula McNulty (soprano) for So Blest a Sight.

Many thanks to all who helped make this concert possible!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=XftCN3X7E_w&t=345

Brown King Concert December 14, 2025