{"id":126993,"date":"2026-04-30T13:38:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T19:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/singing-for-the-rain-mancos-valley-chorus-debuts-water-themed-spring-concerts\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T12:35:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T18:35:28","slug":"singing-for-the-rain-mancos-valley-chorus-debuts-water-themed-spring-concerts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/singing-for-the-rain-mancos-valley-chorus-debuts-water-themed-spring-concerts\/","title":{"rendered":"Singing for the rain: Mancos Valley Chorus debuts water-themed spring concerts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image naviga-inline-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=dda414c2-bfca-532c-aee2-45ffd552d09f&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=dda414c2-bfca-532c-aee2-45ffd552d09f&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=800 800w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=dda414c2-bfca-532c-aee2-45ffd552d09f&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=dda414c2-bfca-532c-aee2-45ffd552d09f&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1800 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 2000px\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1092\" alt=\"Choir member Zane Ferguson sings a featured solo during rehearsal for the Mancos Valley Chorus\u2019 water-themed concert on Tuesday. Shows are scheduled through next week in Mancos and Cortez. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)\" class=\"naviga-image\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">Choir member Zane Ferguson sings a featured solo during rehearsal for the Mancos Valley Chorus\u2019 water-themed concert on Tuesday. Shows are scheduled through next week in Mancos and Cortez. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWade in the water,\u201d the chorus sang \u2013 stopped, then took a few cues from the director and tried it again.<\/p>\n<p>As all of Montezuma County waits on rain, the Mancos Valley Chorus is putting together a different strategy this spring: They are singing for it.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image naviga-inline-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=8bf8cc5d-c3fc-5785-acfd-5f81fcd6571a&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=8bf8cc5d-c3fc-5785-acfd-5f81fcd6571a&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=800 800w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=8bf8cc5d-c3fc-5785-acfd-5f81fcd6571a&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=8bf8cc5d-c3fc-5785-acfd-5f81fcd6571a&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1800 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 2000px\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1421\" alt=\"The Mancos Valley Chorus rehearses alongside a pianist and percussionist during a Tuesday evening practice \u2013 the final dress rehearsal \u2013 in Mancos on Tuesday. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)\" class=\"naviga-image\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">The Mancos Valley Chorus rehearses alongside a pianist and percussionist during a Tuesday evening practice \u2013 the final dress rehearsal \u2013 in Mancos on Tuesday. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><p>\u201cI wanna know: Have you ever seen the rain,\u201d sang soloist Zane Ferguson during Tuesday evening\u2019s practice inside the Mancos United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n<p>The Mancos Valley Chorus moved between harmonies and corrections between bursts of laughter, piecing together a spring program built entirely around one theme: water.<\/p>\n<p>The finishing touches to the program were practiced during a final dress rehearsal ahead of a series of free concerts coming soon to Mancos and Cortez. Performances are occurring at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Mancos United Methodist Church, 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lamp Post Creative Learning Center outside Cortez, 7 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church of Cortez, and for the hometown grand finale, 7 p.m. May 8 at the Mancos United Methodist Church. The Sunday concert and May 8 concert have receptions to follow.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are hoping that our concert season will be a rain dance to the rain Gods singing for the monsoons,\u201d Becky Walker, choir member and secretary, said.<\/p>\n<p>The spring concert is titled \u201cWater Music\u201d and features a set list inspired by rivers, oceans, and rain.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-block-embed-youtube naviga-video-embed\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fXe3Sx05WnA\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The set list is a mix of different keys, a capella arrangements exploring contrasting musical textures, and recognizable tunes like \u201cBridge Over Troubled Water\u201d and \u201cDrunken Sailor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe newer composition is a capella, which is big for us,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n<p>The nonprofit chorus has run for nearly three decades on these high spirits, with practices beginning three months in advance. The time commitment for the volunteer group is a larger ask on already busy schedules, but practices are full of energy.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image naviga-inline-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=9bb90896-62a7-56b5-98ef-0205dfbc4510&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=9bb90896-62a7-56b5-98ef-0205dfbc4510&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=800 800w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=9bb90896-62a7-56b5-98ef-0205dfbc4510&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=9bb90896-62a7-56b5-98ef-0205dfbc4510&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1800 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 2000px\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" alt=\"Sheet music rests on a church pew as sunlight filters through a window during the Mancos Valley Chorus\u2019s final dress rehearsal on Tuesday. The Mancos Valley Chorus is scheduled to perform its show, \u201cWater Music,\u201d in Mancos and Cortez on several dates next week. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)\" class=\"naviga-image\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">Sheet music rests on a church pew as sunlight filters through a window during the Mancos Valley Chorus\u2019s final dress rehearsal on Tuesday. The Mancos Valley Chorus is scheduled to perform its show, \u201cWater Music,\u201d in Mancos and Cortez on several dates next week. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><p>It\u2019s easy to participate in the ensemble \u2014 the group requires no auditions and provides members with audio recordings so they can learn their parts by ear without needing to read sheet music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou are positive we are saying the right notes? Because I feel insane,\u201d one singer, giggling, asked the director, Maggie Gillete, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Gillette reassured the singer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, that\u2019s right, it\u2019s just a weird part. I promise,\u201d she said before moving on to explain how the piece builds to a crescendo.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image naviga-inline-image naviga-align-left alignleft naviga-size-medium\" data-naviga-align=\"left\" data-naviga-size=\"medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=5f1e63f9-8a45-57eb-a795-cfba9a628967&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=5f1e63f9-8a45-57eb-a795-cfba9a628967&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=800 800w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=5f1e63f9-8a45-57eb-a795-cfba9a628967&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=5f1e63f9-8a45-57eb-a795-cfba9a628967&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1800 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 2000px\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1366\" alt=\"Pianist Karen Higuera leads the Mancos Valley Chorus through a piece as singers follow along during rehearsal on Tuesday. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)\" class=\"naviga-image\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">Pianist Karen Higuera leads the Mancos Valley Chorus through a piece as singers follow along during rehearsal on Tuesday. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><p>Gillette said she joined the chorus as a singer before taking over the helm in 2019. She selects and arranges the music for the choir\u2019s two annual programs \u2014 a spring concert and a Christmas performance.<\/p>\n<p>Often, she invents new melodies and arrangements, and even mashes together old classics, such as during last year\u2019s Christmas carols that sang a Santa medley plus a couple lines in French.<\/p>\n<p>While the events are open to the public at no cost, the organization relies on voluntary donations to sustain its operations. It is an inclusive group that\u2019s not church-based but includes members of wide age ranges, from participants in their teens to some in their eighties.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image naviga-inline-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=db9f265a-5e98-51ef-ba6c-b2773899daca&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=db9f265a-5e98-51ef-ba6c-b2773899daca&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=800 800w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=db9f265a-5e98-51ef-ba6c-b2773899daca&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=db9f265a-5e98-51ef-ba6c-b2773899daca&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=1800 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 2000px\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1257\" alt=\"A soloist sings into a microphone while playing guitar during Tuesday\u2019s rehearsal. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)\" class=\"naviga-image\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">A soloist sings into a microphone while playing guitar during Tuesday\u2019s rehearsal. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><p>A little after 8 p.m., Gillette offered some fine-tuning notes, advising singers to listen for specific keys, to keep practicing during off-time and to refine their facial expressions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to be a chorus about people. If we don\u2019t care about our people and our families \u2013 if you have a family emergency or a celebration of life \u2013 that comes first. Obviously, you should miss a concert,\u201d Gillette said after one singer said they might miss part of a show.<\/p>\n<p><em id=\"emphasis-98907bcfd31e30a39855f8e435ce491b\"><a href=\"mailto:awatson@the-journal.com\">awatson@the-journal.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>familiar favorites and a cappella arrangement in a lighthearted nod to the dry season<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":126994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5736,5735],"tags":[1060,28,559,29,6419],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-126993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news","tag-arts-entertainment","tag-headlines","tag-music","tag-newsletter","tag-tj-trueanthem"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126993"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":128371,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126993\/revisions\/128371"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126993"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=126993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}