Bel Canto SIngers of Kezar Falls

Left chair:  Doris Verbeck Lord – 2^nd Alto, standing: 

 Iva Ridlon Cutting – 2^nd Soprano.Right standing: Margaret Lord

 Chellis – 1^st Alto, front chair: Flora Ridlon Carpenter.

   A women’s quartet from Kezar Falls called the “Bel Canto Singers” made an impression in the music world here in 1936/37 performing in concerts in the surrounding area, Portland, Rockland, ME, and as far away as  St. Johnsbury, VT.  Evidence of their popularity is expressed in press releases. 

 All four women had been musically trained and were studying at the time under Donald Gagne of Boston and St. Johnsbury, VT.  Flora, Margaret and Doris had also been members of the Rossini Club of Portland.  Flora Carpenter went on to be Supervisor of Music in the public schools of Parsonsfield and Porter as well as other surrounding towns and is well remembered by the children who attended schools here for many years.  (We were unable to determine when they stopped performing formally.)

The Portland Rossini Club is still a prestigious music club.  It was originally founded in 1869 exclusively for women performers.  Male members have been accepted since the late 1980’s.  It currently has seven concerts per year.  Even 145 years later, the club only accepts the best, holding small auditions throughout the year at the Cathedral of St. Luke.  To be eligible as a “performing member” one must audition. Nonperforming members are accepted as Associate Members.  They are individuals who believe in the club’s mission of providing live music to the public and encourage offering music scholarships to Maine students. 

Bel Canto Singers Show Artistry In Concert Here

Feb. 16, 1937, by Caroline W. Stevens

            The Bel Canto Singers of Kezar Falls, a quartet which was well received at an earlier appearance before the Portland Rossini Club, presented an interesting concert at the State Street Parish House Monday evening.  An invited audience, including many of the musical set, showed appreciation of the excellent program, rendered with much artistry.

            Members of the quartet are Mrs. Flora R. Carpenter, 1^st Soprano; Mrs. Iva R. Cutting, 2nd soprano; Mrs. Margaret L. Chellis, 1^st alto, and Mrs. Doris V. Lord, 2^nd alto.  Mrs. Carpenter is a non-resident member of the Portland Rossini Club.

            The voices blended harmoniously and the singers showed interpretive taste and excellent training.  Bernice R. Huber was the pianist and proved a capable accompanist.  Solos, duet numbers and quartet numbers were on the program.  Ushers for the concert were Donald Dow, Donald Anderson, Louis Stanley and Frank Lord of Kezar Falls.

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PORTLAND EVENING NEWS:

A group of guest singers lent a grateful note to the program in a series of songs sung in four part harmony….. The voices were pleasant to the ear, and the songs well chosen.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD:

The Bel Canto Singers show themselves most versatile interpreting the songs in a musicianly manner.  The voices, very different in quality when heard in solo, blended pleasingly.  That the entire program was sung without notes added much to its enjoyment.

BRIDGTON NEWS

The excellency of their voices and wide variety of selections provided a program keenly enjoyed.

PORTLAND EVENING EXPRESS

…..Voices blended harmoniously and the singers showed interpretative taste and excellent training.

ST. JOHNSBURY CALEDONIAN

The quartet of Portland who were heard last June in the Gagne recital, accepted an oft-repeated invitation to return to St. Johnsbury, and gave a concert which merited the hearty applause accorded them.

ROCKLAND COURIER GAZETTE

The Ladies’ quartet …… of Kezar Falls was “a thing of beauty and joy forever,” their voices blending as the colors of a rainbow, with noticeable clear enunciation and group phrasing.