Voices of the Mountains
Voices of the Mountains was formed in 2003 when the Bristol Concert Choir and the Kingsport Symphony Chorus merged. Matthew Potterton is the current director.
“We sing all styles of music. Each year the choir joins the Symphony of the Mountains to present a joint symphonic choir piece. Selections in the past have included Brahm’s ‘Requiem’ and Mozart’s ‘Requiem.’ This year, we are combining to perform a mass by André Thomas, ‘A Celebration of Joy,’ which is more of a gospel mass.
“In addition, the choir sings a concert separate from the symphony. In that concert we sing everything from pop and musical theater to classical standards.
“Music is about heart and soul. It does not matter if all of the notes and rhythms are accurate if singers are not sharing their hearts and souls. I have been to many choir concerts that just bore me after 15 minutes because they are just singing notes without passion. I’m all about the passion. Our singers have a passion to create music. Our souls need to be fed and being a part of an arts group is the greatest way to do that,” Potterton says.
The chorus’s repertoire varies from Renaissance motets and madrigals, Baroque oratorios, Viennese masses, to modern folk songs. An ensemble from Voices of the Mountains performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall in January 2006 and May 2008.
“We perform in various places. We have performed in local churches as well as the Kingsport Farmer’s Market enclosure. The farmer’s market was unique for sure, but it ended up being a great venue. We will join the Symphony of the Mountains Dec. 2 and 3 for a traditional holiday concert. We then sing André Thomas’ mass Feb. 10. Our choir-only concert will be at First Presbyterian Church in Bristol on April 13,” Potterton says.
The choir has an open audition once a year in August. Singers who wish to audition but missed this year’s audition can call Lynetta Johnson at 276-591-9019 to arrange a time and place for an audition.
“There is nothing to prepare for the audition. I will have each person sing scales so that I can get to know their voice as well as have them sing melodies back to me that I play. We have members who haven’t sung since eighth grade as well as singers who have advanced degrees in vocal performance. If a person can carry a tune and also has a passion for making music at the highest quality possible, all are invited. We have singers as young as high school age on up to 90 years young. I love that we have a multi-generational group,” Potterton says.
Potterton is the former department of music chair and director of choral activities at East Tennessee State University. He has conducted choirs and taught voice at Baker University (Baldwin City, Kansas) the University of California, Irvine, Carroll College (Waukesha, Wisconsin), Alverno College (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), and Colorado University, Boulder. He has also taught elementary music, middle school choirs and an award-winning high school choir. Having worked with all ages, he is a frequent clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in “The Literature and Performance of Choral Music” from Colorado University, Boulder, and also has a master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting from the University of California, Irvine.
While director of the ETSU Chorale, Potterton earned international and national acclaim. In the summer of 2022. Chorale competed in an international music festival and won four gold medals and the Grand Prix, overall winner of the festival. In the summer of 2019, Potterton conducted Chorale in Llangollen, Wales, where they participated in one of the most prestigious international competitions in the world. Chorale placed first in two categories and second in another.
In addition to conducting, Potterton has appeared as a tenor soloist in recital and on stage. He has toured internationally with Men in Blaque, a men’s ensemble from Southern California. This group has won gold medals in world choir competitions.
The Voices of the Mountains are planning a tour to Austria and Germany next summer. The choir will have the opportunity to sing in some of the world’s greatest cathedrals. For more information, contact Johnson at 276-591-9019.
For more information on the choir and its concert dates, visit www.symphonyofthemountains.org/voices.
