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Director Peter R. Boak conducts the Island Community Chorus in the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School music room. Every rehearsal begins with a vocal warm-up. Photos by Ralph Stewart

The chorus prepares for this weekend's concerts. The program is "At the Opera" and will feature many familiar songs.

The Island Community Chorus spring concert will take the audience on a musical trip to the opera. Director Peter R. Boak has chosen a program of opera favorites from Verdi to Gilbert and Sullivan.

“Easter Hymn” by Pietro Mascagni is from the opera “Cavalleria Rusticana” and is sung in Italian. The piece, although only six minutes long, is as challenging as it is beautiful. The chorus must divide not only by voice part, but also into two separate choirs. “Brindisi,” also sung in Italian is from “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi. The audience will instantly recognize these two melodies.

The women take center stage when they sing the hauntingly beautiful “Prayer” from “Hansel and Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck.

To include an American opera, Mr. Boak purposely selected a piece out of season, but very much in keeping with the theme. “Amahl and the Night Visitors” was the first opera commissioned for television, premiering Dec. 24, 1951. The Menotti opera became an instant classic, rebroadcast every year until the original video recording was lost. It remains a favorite of many choirs and choruses every Christmas. Soloists and Island Community Chorus members will perform the scene where the shepherds come to meet the three kings who are resting for the night in Amahl's house.

No opera concert would be complete without the topsy-turvy world of Gilbert and Sullivan. The chorus will sing the Act One finale from “The Mikado,” featuring several soloists. “The Gondoliers” last act finale is a rousing piece that, according Gilbert and Sullivan, will “leave you with feelings of pleasure.”

The Island Community Chorus is a non-professional group of singers who meet once a week for the love of singing. Under the direction of Mr. Boak, the chorus has taken on increasingly difficult work and the singers always rise to the challenge of the music. Pianist Garrett Brown will perform with the chorus and is also the rehearsal accompanist. The chorus performs a winter, spring, and summer concert. New members are always encouraged to join.

Island Community Chorus Concert, April 2, 7:30 pm and April 3, 3 pm, at Old Whaling Church, Main St., Edgartown. Admission: $15 donation, students free.