“Singing As A Community, For The Community”
Our History
Midcoast Community Chorus is a vibrant and dynamic non-profit organization inspired by Mimi Bornstein in 2005. That vision continued with the leadership of conductors Steve Weston and Jeffrey Maynard, and is now being nurtured by Artistic Co-Directors and conductors Kim Murphy an Kathryn Mahan.
With Ms. Bornstein’s creative vision and charismatic leadership, in 2005 more than 130 community members and local musicians gathered to perform Paul Winter’s Missa Gaia in celebration of Earth Day. This event, sponsored by the First Universalist Church in Rockland, brought together singers representing several generations and a wide range of musical skills. Performing to a sold-out audience of over 800 at the Strom Auditorium at Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport, Maine, the chorus raised $10,000 for Tanglewood 4-H Camp, the first beneficiary of the vision to "harness the power of music to build community and change lives.”
In early 2007, the chorus performed the highly acclaimed Neighbor to Neighbor Concert: Music to Feed Our Friends. This concert raised $12,000 for Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry, an organization focused on hunger needs in Knox County. At this point, it became clear that there was a community of singers who were enthusiastic and willing to commit their voices and time to support community causes through singing.
In September 2007, Midcoast Community Chorus was launched as an independent organization by Ms. Bornstein and a group of volunteers who brought their dedication and varied skills to this endeavor. Two individual donors stepped forward with significant financial gifts for startup costs, a Board of Trustees was formed, and Ms. Bornstein was hired as the Artistic and Executive Director. The Board filed articles of incorporation in early January 2008 and in April 2008 received tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization from the IRS.
Mr. Weston took the reins in 2017 as Artistic Director, bringing with him a rich background as a music educator, professional flautist, and professional chorister. Under his leadership, Midcoast Community Chorus performed concerts that heightened our social awareness and familiarity with multiple genres of music. As a result of the COVID pandemic in 2020, Midcoast Community Chorus, was unfortunately silenced. However, in October 2022, the decision was made to come together in song once again and Jeffrey Maynard was appointed Artistic Director. His background as a music educator, professional singer and orchestral conductor, and music director lent many wonderful resources to reviving the chorus and regaining momentum for both singers and audiences. The chorus is now led by co-Artistic Directors Kathryn Mahan and Kim Murphy, who together bring a rich wealth of knowledge and experience to every aspect of this role. We all share much excitement about the prospect of them leading us to new heights in song!
Founded on the belief that everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard, and that powerful things happen when we sing together in community, Midcoast Community Chorus is a multi-generational non-auditioned chorus offering a supportive environment for anyone who wants to sing. Performing music of hope, healing, transformation and peace from all over the world, singers find voice for themselves and give voice to some of the issues of our time.
Midcoast Community Chorus provides musical education opportunities and small group offerings to further support its mission. Now in its 22nd semester, Midcoast Community Chorus has performed a wide body of work from a variety of international and musical genres. We continue our work of identifying and partnering with other organizations that are dedicated to addressing the needs of our Midcoast communities.