The Franklin County Community Chorus is returning to the stage on Sunday for what is expected to be one of its biggest concerts since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a really great concert,” said Paul Calcari, director and founder of the choral group. “We have a great mix of [music].”

The Franklin County Community Chorus Concert will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Greenfield High School. The set list will include patriotic music, folk and easy-listening music, some Broadway tunes, rock music and a multicultural piece. For the first time in several years, songs will be accompanied by brass and woodwind instruments, percussion and stringed instruments.

“When we were rehearsing, we were mostly rehearsing just us singing, but a bunch of the numbers have … percussion and woodwinds,” said Greenfield resident Tamara Grogan, who will be performing with the choral group. “We’ve been trying to pull that together at the last few rehearsals, and I’ll be interested to hear that all come together.”

The choral group got its start in 2013 after Calcari hosted a concert for a few Greenfield High School alumni, whom he had taught as music director before his retirement. It was something they had been asking him to do for decades, he said.

The group now consists of about 65 members who meet weekly on Sundays at the Guiding Star Grange at 401 Chapman St. Members come from throughout western Massachusetts and range in age from 20 to 90 years old.

“These are people that just love to sing together,” Calcari said. “A lot of them are former students. We also have a lot of people who come because they’ve heard us and they love it. We’re always looking for new members.”

Among the former students in the group is Greenfield resident Jim Patten, who has been with the choral group since the beginning.

“When we started up, we had a small group,” Patten said. “As word got out … more people got involved. We’ve got a variety of people from all over the place.”

Sunday’s concert is open to all with a suggested $5 donation for entry.

“We’re really excited about the concert and we’d love to have people come out and hear us,” Calcari said.

He said for those interested in joining the choral group, the new season kicks off at 6 p.m. on Sept. 10 at 401 Chapman St.

“For anybody interested in singing, we’d love to have them come and join us,” he said. “This is a non-audition group. The only requirement is you have to love to sing and be able to take direction.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

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