The Choral Arts Foundation of the Upper Valley lists more than 30 groups on its website, including church choirs, community choruses and ensembles, and youth choruses. There’s certainly no shortage of options for anyone who wants to sing. One of these choral groups, Upper Valley Voices (UVV), is approaching 50 years of creating community through singing.
Founded by Director Valerie Miller in 1978 as the Thetford Chamber Singers, the group transitioned to using the name Upper Valley Voices in 2023 to better reflect its repertoire, which includes a wide range of classical and contemporary music, as well as the ensemble’s geographic footprint. Members from across the Upper Valley meet on Tuesday evenings for rehearsals at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley in Norwich. Performances are held each winter and spring at churches throughout the region, most recently in Strafford, Thetford, Norwich, and Lebanon.
The current UVV director, Kevin Quigley, has been with the group since January 2005.
“I really just loved what Valerie Miller, the founder and director, was doing,” said Quigley. “I liked her style, I liked her repertoire, and I liked the people in the group, the vibe. So, I stepped in to sing.”

UVV Accompanist Alison Cerutti and Director Kevin Quigley

A Welcoming Atmosphere

Quigley became the director in 2013. He creates a choral atmosphere that’s welcoming to singers of varying experience and abilities. Some members are professional musicians, while others have little experience reading music or are returning to a choir after not singing for some time.
“I love having an ensemble that’s that varied but so dedicated to working together,” Quigley said. “It’s inspiring to see the generosity of the experienced artists and it’s inspiring to see the courage of the less experienced artists.”
Norwich resident Franny Eanet joined the Thetford Chamber Singers in 1998 after seeing an ad in the Valley News calling for new members. “I am a long-time choral singer, pretty much since junior high school,” she said. “All different places that I’ve lived and phases of my life, I’ve usually found some group or other to sing with.”
She noted how open the group is to new members. “Kevin is welcoming to people of a variety of abilities,” she said. “People shouldn’t be put off by a lack of experience.”
That accessibility is extended to audiences, as Quigley tries to deformalize the concert experience. “We’re very low key and very down to earth when we’re in front of an audience,” he said. “I’ll talk about pieces in informative ways and humble ways, and there’s no choir robes, no tuxedo with tails, that’s just not a part of who we are or what we want to be doing. We want to make things human and real.”

Telling a Story Through Song

Quigley programs the music for each season’s concert based on a theme. “I’ve always felt that art needs be purposeful,” he said. “No matter what kind of art it is, it’s got to do something other than just make people feel good or give them a beautiful experience or entertain them. That’s never been enough for me.”
He starts with a series of questions: What is it that this ensemble needs right now? What is the message? What is the energy we need? When the group came back to in-person rehearsals and concerts after the COVID pandemic, he expanded his criteria to include: What does the Upper Valley community need? “At that point we were talking about vibrancy, health, courage, and the ability to come back together,” he said. “That’s what vocal music does. That’s its purpose. It binds us together socially and emotionally and spiritually.”
When programming music, Quigley enjoys bringing diverse pieces from different time periods, languages, and styles together to form a cohesive story.
The theme for the upcoming Spring 2026 concert is Justice. “This one is about justice and making sure that we understand what it means and how important it is to solidify, to make certain our culture stays stable and caring and compassionate and aware of each other,” he said. “That’s been a bit of a challenge for the past several years, so the music we’re singing in May is all about righting the balance, bringing things back into a place where we can all be proud of where we’re from and where we live and each other regardless of our differences. Where we can treat each other with respect and kindness, and we can become motivated designers of the place we live and how we live there.”

Upper Valley Voices perform at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon in 2025.

For the Love of Music

Being part of a chorus has individual benefits, as well.
Leah Romano, who lives in Norwich, joined the chorus in the 2011-2012 season. She had performed with other local groups and was looking to expand her artist community. She currently serves as UVV’s management committee chair.
With a background in performance and theater, Romano is first and foremost connected to the music. “I just really love learning new music,” she said. “Whether you’re learning it to sing it or appreciate it or connect to the emotionality of a song where you’re like ‘wow, that’s so beautiful.’”
Eanet is drawn to the experience of singing with others. “I just love music and being involved with it,” she said. “I don’t really want to be a solo singer. I’ll do a solo here or there or sing in a small group, but I don’t want the attention or pressure. I much more enjoy the dynamic of singing in a section, and singing in a group.”
She also appreciates the way singing can transcend the realities of daily life. “It’s a good way to get your mind off of everything else that’s going on,” she said. “When I’m in the middle of doing it and I’m really focused on it, it’s like I’m not even thinking about anything. My brain is fully engaged in what I’m doing. … Anything that can get me in that state is good.”
Members of the group also serve as a support network for each other.
“I wouldn’t have stayed for so long if it wasn’t for the people,” said Romano. “The singers and the audience alike. They’re just genuinely a caring group of folks. I love learning with them and singing with them.”
Eanet said the group comes together to help members in need. “It’s a really warm, welcoming group to be part of,” she said. “One of the things that’s been a constant for me in this group since I’ve joined is that aspect of it. If people are going through something difficult, it’s a community of people that will step up support them.”

A Circular Connection

Singing in a chorus is just one way to get involved in the arts in the Upper Valley. “We share rehearsal spaces, we share venues or program supporters, or companies in the area that want to make a difference,” said Romano. “We’re very mindful of those supporters that have helped us over the years and we thank them. We couldn’t have done it without them. We’re member run, primarily ticket based and donation based, so we get to do what we do because of them. It is that circular connection. Some people want to sing and perform. Some people want to listen and support. Some people just want to make sure the arts are alive in the area.”
As UVV starts planning for its 50th Anniversary celebration, Romano said it will be a collaborative musical opportunity for the community.
“I think that it’s really important we return to singing together,” said Quigley. “It used to be people would get together and sing in bars and pubs, with each other, full hearted. They would sing at the ballpark, at their religious services. Someone could break into song on the street and others would join them. And this is not something that happens anymore. Revitalizing and maintaining our choral tradition is vital to maintaining our humanity.”

Lisa Lance joined the Upper Valley Voices in the fall of 2025. For more information about the group and upcoming performances, visit uppervalleyvoices.org.

Each year, volunteers for the Norwich Wood Bee spend a fall day cutting, splitting, and stacking wood to ensure those in need will have heat for the winter. This year, the program had about 10 volunteers come out to a woodlot on Beaver Meadow Road in Norwich on October 11. Participants were encouraged to bring wood splitters, wheelbarrows, and refreshments for an active day outdoors. They spent four to five hours moving wood to splitters, transferring the split wood to a shed, and stacking it.

Eric Friets, director of the Norwich Wood Bee, started as a volunteer on the fall work days and then took over coordinating the program in 2020. “We run entirely on volunteers,” he said. “All of our effort goes into firewood that keeps people warm.”

Those who need wood for the season can make requests through the Norwich town office or Upper Valley Haven.

Nancy Griffin, service coordinator with Upper Valley Haven, has been working with the Norwich Wood Bee for several years. She fields requests from people who request wood and shares them with Friets for the Wood Bee.

“They’re wonderful,” said Griffin. “They make the difference for a lot of families and individuals. Most people heat with something extra to save money, and they have been amazing.”

Friets said one of the unique aspects of the program is that it is very informal. They don’t have a charter or founding document, a budget, or a requirement for recipients to complete any forms or show proof of income.

“I love the efficiency of the aid,” said Friets. “How easy it is for recipients to contact us and how easy it is for us to get them wood. It’s simple and efficient in terms of impact.”

“This is just something very kind that’s being done that’s very useful, with no paperwork except for directions for where they’re going,” Griffin said. “That’s another wonderful thing, that we can do things just out of kindness. People don’t call here unless they’re in need. I think it’s really incredible that it exists.”

The Norwich Wood Bee typically holds one work day each fall that is open to anyone who would like to volunteer. Friets said occasionally a local organization or company will sponsor its employees for a volunteer day, or a youth group will participate.

The town provides the Norwich Wood Bee with trees that have fallen or were cut down along roads. Sometimes local residents who have trees taken down on their property donate it to the program. “Once we had someone who was doing some logging on their land offer us a whole truckload,” Friets said.

Between eight and 12 families from Norwich and surrounding communities will receive firewood this year. “He also delivers, to the hardest places in the world to get to sometimes,” said Griffin. “Which I really appreciate.”

Because the wood is not kiln-dried, the program can only deliver wood to homes in a 50-mile radius within Vermont to comply with Vermont forestry regulations.

Griffin has concerns about an increased need for fuel assistance this winter, as families continue to struggle with housing, food demand, and increasing costs. “The middle class is getting squeezed. Everything has gotten so much more expensive,” she said. “The community is really stepping up, though. Everywhere, you’re seeing people trying to fill in gaps for people, which is really nice. Vermont’s kind of like that, I think. It’s a great state to live in.”

Demo Sofronas attended the 2025 volunteer day and shared the experience through his About Norwich Substack newsletter. He described it as “a day that was filled with lots of activity and people were busy, energetic, and actually excited to be there to assist in this very worthwhile cause.”

Friets said he enjoys the physical aspect of the work day, as well as providing warmth for others in the community. “It’s good exercise, and I like to work outside,” he said. “I’ve really come to enjoy talking to the recipients that I see every year. This year, one of our long-time regular clients had called to make arrangements and then called back and said somebody had given them a cord of wood unexpectedly so they called to cancel to make sure someone else could get that wood.”

Friets gets the word out through the Norwich Listserv and emails to volunteers. Community members who would like to volunteer can contact the Norwich Wood Bee through the town office or Upper Valley Haven.

“Volunteers really make things happen,” said Griffin. “We couldn’t survive here without our volunteers. There’s so much talent in the Upper Valley and so much thoughtfulness. It makes you happy to be here, and grateful to be here.”

The Family Place, a Norwich-based nonprofit that offers programs and resources to support healthy growth for children and families, will celebrate its 40th Anniversary with a series of events throughout the year.

The celebrations will kick off with a Community Open House on September 10 from 4:30-6 p.m. at its Norwich location: 319 US Route 5 South Norwich, Vermont 05055.

Additional pop-up events will be held throughout the year in Thetford, Norwich, South Royalton, Hanover, Woodstock, and Hartland. Events include a Gingerbread Festival on December 6 at Tracy Hall in Norwich and an Anniversary Gala on May 14 at the Quechee Club. More details will be announced at the Community Open House on September 10.

“Over 40 years, we’ve worked with thousands of families. That’s had a huge impact in our region,” said Executive Director Stephanie Slayton. “The work we do helps children and families grow from trauma, build skills, and provide tools to promote healthy development and learning.”

The Family Place also helps families connect with other families and resources. “We’re really helping families achieve their goals, so they can be strong and healthy, and that has a multigenerational effect.”

“It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Family Place as my family and I feel so strongly about the importance of the services they provide for young children and their families here in our community,” said Jessica Cowan, a member of The Family Place’s Family Advisory Committee. “My son is a graduate of their early intervention physical and speech therapy services. My husband and I were empowered by the wonderful team of clinicians who came into our home to work with our son and who taught us how to best support his early development. We also attend play groups and other activities hosted by The Family Place. This has not only provided my son with enriching play and social opportunities but has also provide me with the opportunity to socialize with other parents with young children.  The best part has been the opportunity to give back and support future endeavors of The Family Place by becoming a member of the Family Advisory Committee. I’m proud to be able to continue to support this amazing organization as they celebrate their milestone anniversary and as they continue to plan for the future.”

Slayton said people who would like to get involved can volunteer to support programs, participate in landscaping and building projects, or read stories to children in early education programs. They can also share information about The Family Place with the human resources team at their place of employment or with local moms’ groups.

Financial support is also appreciated. “One of the best ways people can support our work is to invest in children and families by becoming a donor,” Slayton said. “We are working hard to increase our donor base so we have more sustainable, flexible funding.”

Slayton credits The Family Place staff and their dedication to building caring, family-centered relationships to help the agency meet the community’s evolving needs.

“When I look at the legacy of The Family Place, what is remarkable about the organization is that it has adapted to the changing needs of children and families over time,” said Slayton. “We’re able to build new programs that meet current needs or expand programs. We’ve dramatically increased the number of parent workshops and classes we offer, because we saw a need. We’re really able to respond to what our community needs.”

For information about The Family Place’s 40th Anniversary Celebration, visit familyplacevt.org/40th-anniversary-celebrations.