Music is a defining part of what it means to live in or visit Manchester. The Manchester Bicentennial Band Shell at Manchester Community College offers concerts all summer (view the schedule at www.manchesterbandshell.com). In addition to the live entertainment at restaurants and bars in town, music is celebrated and shared by a handful of long-standing local groups.

Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale
860-645-1151
www.msoc.org

Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale members prepare to play. Courtesy photo.

The Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale was formed 50 years ago, and has grown to include 80 members.

Lewis Buckley is the orchestra conductor, and Dr. Kevin Mack directs the chorale. “We perform five concerts a season – some are orchestra only, some are chorale only, some we join forces,” said Linda Cromwell, president of the Board of Directors. “We perform mostly classical, but the last concert of the season is often more popular music.”

The season finale is May 22 at Manchester High School, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.

Silk City Barbershop Chorus
860-328-1876
www.silkcitybarbershopchorus.org

The Silk City Barbershop Chorus. Courtesy photo.

The Silk City Barbershop Chorus is a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which has 600 chapters worldwide. “The thing that sets us apart as an art form is that we’re a cappella – that means without accompaniment,” said Steve Holtz, the vice president of marketing and public relations.

The group has about 60 active members – men ranging in age from their 20s to their 80s. “We have a major annual show, always the second or third Saturday in January, at Manchester High School,” Holtz said. They also offer “Singing Valentines” and other local performances.

The group is directed by Todd Lamson and rehearses at the Second Congregational Church on Monday nights.

Community Choir of Manchester
860-647-3402
www.communitychoirofmanchester.org

Community Choir of Manchester

Director Cheryl Hilton founded the Community Choir of Manchester about 10 years ago, and it now includes 20 to 30 members of all ages. “I wanted to do something that people could be a part of... so anyone who wanted to sing could,” the local choir teacher said.

Rehearsals are held at Illing Middle School on Thursday evenings. The choir performs at Manchester High School in December and in the spring, in addition to an annual show at the Breakers mansion in Newport, R.I. “And we did do some caroling last December through Manchester, to bring some holiday cheer to the area,” Hilton said.

The choir offers a mixture of musical styles and welcomes anyone – from novices to pros – to sing.

Manchester Citadel Band
The Salvation Army
661 Main St.
860-649-7787
www.salvationarmyusa.org

Manchester Citadel Band

The Manchester Citadel Band was formed in 1888, to provide musical support to the Salvation Army’s ministry.

Today, the 25-member band is under the leadership of Michael Orfitelli. It plays at each Sunday’s church service at the Salvation Army, and offers special concerts at Christmas and throughout the year. “It’s sort of like a church choir, but it’s a church band,” Orfitelli said. A group from the band will participate in Heritage Day in June.

Summit Studios
421 Main St.
860-645-1502
www.summitstudios.org

Summit Studios offers music lessons. Photo by Andrew J. Concatelli.

The town is also home to many music studios and specialty stores offering instruments and equipment. Among these music-minded businesses is Summit Studios, which provides vocal, dance and theater training, and instruction on dozens of instruments. Tom Deffenbaugh, co-owner along with Donna Schaffer, said the studio has 25 instructors and more than 400 students per week, ranging in age from 4 to 74.

The students participate in many regional bands and theatrical performances. “There’s a lot of cultivation of young artists here,” Deffenbaugh said of Manchester’s music scene. “There’s a huge group of people in this town who love music.”