Naugatuck Community Choir names director

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NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Community Choir announced Friday that it has found a new director to replace Dr. Marguarette Mullee, who left in May.

Local musician Mark C. Silva, who holds degrees in vocal performance from the University of Connecticut and Western Connecticut State University, will fill the newly-vacant post after months of interviews and auditions from applicants across the state.

Silva intends to “maintain the choir’s high musical standards while programming music that both challenges its membership and entertains the community at large.”

Aldona LaPorta, the choir’s president, said the choir’s board was “impressed with [Silva’s] roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic and positive sense of humor.”

While at UConn, Silva was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society. He has served as choirmaster of the university’s opera ensemble and as assistant conductor of the men’s chorus. He also has assumed the role of assistant conductor to the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus and Waterbury Chorale, and is currently employed as full-time director of music ministry at the Church and School of the Blessed Sacrament in Waterbury.

Now in its 12th year, the choir stands at 65 voices and performs a blend of classical and popular music.

On Monday, Sept. 14 Silva will begin rehearsing with the Naugatuck Community Choir. Rehearsals will be held at the Naugatuck High School choir room, beginning at 7 p.m. New members of all voices are welcome, but the choir has a need for tenors. Call 723-2005 for information.