Cantora Arctica Presents “We’ve got Joy, Peace, Love!”: A Free Spring Concert Celebration
Contributed by Diana Bailey
The joy of spring has inspired what promises to be a joyful embrace for peace and love! Palmer, AK - Cantora Arctica, the Mat-Su Valley’s premier women’s choral group, invites the public to their uplifting annual spring concert, “We’ve Got Joy, Peace, Love!” on May 17th at 7 PM. The free event will be held at the First Baptist Church of Palmer, located at 1150 E. Helen Drive.
This joyful evening features two sets of diverse musical selections reflecting the themes of joy, peace, and love. Audiences will enjoy Broadway hits and swing tunes celebrating joy, love songs with unique twists, and reflective gospel and lyrical pieces embodying peace. An intermission will offer festive refreshments, appetizers, and a donation-based bake sale showcasing the choir’s baking talents.
Under the direction of Deborah Cooper, Cantora Arctica has been enriching the community’s musical landscape for 24 years with biannual concerts. The 36-member choir, comprised of women of all ages and backgrounds, is accompanied by pianist Anna Witt and occasionally joined by local musicians.
“We are a group of women dedicated to the art of making music together, said Cantora director, Deb Cooper, who has directed the choir since 2016. She recently retired from being an elementary school music teacher for 30 years.
The chorus currently has 36 members participating in the Spring 2025 semester comprised of women of various ages and backgrounds who have come together for the enjoyment of making music. Several members have been part of the choir for many years. The accompanist is Anna Witt, an extremely talented pianist who has been with the choir since 2016. The songsters invite local musicians, with a variety of instruments, to accompany several of the songs each semester.
Cantora is funded by a semester tuition fee paid by choir members and donations raised at the concerts. Expenses include the music, refreshments, guest musicians, uniforms, etc. Rehearsals are on Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Immanual Baptist Church at 7540 E. Cottrell-Campus Drive, Palmer, AK (the white church near the Trunk Road round-about by the Mat-Su Regional Hospital).
“We welcome new members! Our goal is to uplift each other through song, bring music to our community, celebrate our joys, and encourage those experiencing trials. The artistic quality of our sound may not be precise, but you will enjoy singing with us!”, Deb says. So please contact Deb at 907-232-2073 if you would like to join or have more information about our flock of singing geese!