Choir Director for Our Lady of Hope Parish in New Hartford Steps Down

New Hartford - Full choral music activities returned to Immaculate Conception Church in New Hartford last September.

Director of Music Dan Ringuette plays the keyboard each Sunday at the 8:00 and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Most Masses have a cantor, but the Worship! Group, which is a small, contemporary-ish choir, recently led the music at the 11:30 Mass. Ringuette, who is frequently seen as music director at the Warner Theatre and other local theaters, serves as the music coordinator for the combined parishes of Our Lady of Hope, which includes Immaculate Heart of Mary in Harwinton and Immaculate Conception.

The final choir Mass of the season was held on June 12 at the 11:30 a.m. Mass. The church choirs combined, about 30 singers in all, for a special reason. The choir director, Pam Humphrey, was stepping down after about 20 years of conducting the singers while Ringuette accompanies them.

In the church bulletin, Rev. John Granato, Pastor of Our Lady of Hope parishes, wrote, "The choirs of our Lady of Hope Parish, in both Immaculate Heart of Mary and Immaculate Conception Churches, have had a long, accomplished history. They have enhanced the congregation’s participation and have led the congregation into a deeper worship of the Triune God."

Father Granato added: "Today, sadly, marks the retirement of Pam Humphrey as choir director, primarily in Immaculate Conception Church, a post she has exceled in for over twenty years. In the five months that I have been pastor, I have enjoyed the choir’s ability to help us to worship. To God give all the glory!! We will miss Pam’s skill to bring together the choir, and we wish her well in her future endeavors. She mentioned to me that she would still be available to occasionally cantor Sunday and funeral Masses. Thank you, Pam, for all you have done for Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Hope parishes and may God continue to bless you."

The music for the special Mass included "How Beautiful," "Go Light Your World," and "Able" by Sarah Hart.

"We have built quite a wonderful program," Ringuette said, "and have recorded three CDs with the choirs in New Hartford at Immaculate Conception."

At one point the churches had four separate choirs: an adult choir (Spirit!); a select adult contemporary group (Worship!); a teen choir (Praise!); and a youth choir (Joy!). Because there are fewer young people at the church, the Praise! and Joy! choirs have been replace by a youth choir (Angel Choir) in the parish, which sings at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Harwinton.

Now the Spirit! and Worship! choirs remain in New Hartford. Over in Harwinton they also have an adult choir (Grace Notes), a small young adult/teen choir (Inspiration), and the Angel Choir for kids. AJ Bunel is the music director/accompanist in Harwinton and Loni Birkenberger is the choir director.

All of the adult choirs combine for Holy Week and Easter. Following the June 12 Mass, the choirs will take the summer off and resume in September.

Ringuette is unsure how the church will handle replacing Ms. Humphrey.