About Us
Our Vision
The Greater Freeport Community Chorus aspires to become a premier community choral group through the quality of its performances and the contribution to Community by its outreach endeavors.
We have members from all over the greater Freeport area including Bath, Bowdoin, Brunswick, Cumberland, Durham, Freeport, South Freeport, Portland, South Portland, Pownal and Yarmouth. No audition required.
Our History
The Greater Freeport Community Chorus was founded by Sukie Rice of Freeport in 1996 and was directed by her for five years.
During the summer of 2005 we performed with Tim Janis at Merrill Auditorium where we taped a PBS holiday special. We had Tim Janis as our guest at the winter concert 2005, where he presented us with CD's of the July concert at Merrill Auditorium. We have caroled at area nursing homes and at LL Bean's Flagship Store in Freeport. Late in the summer of 2018, we sang the National Anthem at a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game, after being rained out on our first attempt a few weeks before. We sang it anyway that day in the alley approach to the field!
In late 2019, we established the Don Hamalainen Memorial Scholarship in Don's honor. He was a member of the chorus for many years and his wife continues to sing with us. The scholarship will aid a Greater Freeport area graduating high school senior who will be pursuing music in higher education.
The Greater Freeport Community Chorus aspires to become a premier community choral group through the quality of its performances and the contribution to Community by its outreach endeavors.
We have members from all over the greater Freeport area including Bath, Bowdoin, Brunswick, Cumberland, Durham, Freeport, South Freeport, Portland, South Portland, Pownal and Yarmouth. No audition required.
Our History
The Greater Freeport Community Chorus was founded by Sukie Rice of Freeport in 1996 and was directed by her for five years.
During the summer of 2005 we performed with Tim Janis at Merrill Auditorium where we taped a PBS holiday special. We had Tim Janis as our guest at the winter concert 2005, where he presented us with CD's of the July concert at Merrill Auditorium. We have caroled at area nursing homes and at LL Bean's Flagship Store in Freeport. Late in the summer of 2018, we sang the National Anthem at a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game, after being rained out on our first attempt a few weeks before. We sang it anyway that day in the alley approach to the field!
In late 2019, we established the Don Hamalainen Memorial Scholarship in Don's honor. He was a member of the chorus for many years and his wife continues to sing with us. The scholarship will aid a Greater Freeport area graduating high school senior who will be pursuing music in higher education.
Jesse Wakeman, Artistic Director
Our Artistic Director
In September 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and not being able to have regular rehearsals, let alone performances, Jesse Wakeman joined the GFCC as Artistic Director. Jesse is a Maine native, born and raised on Penobscot Bay in the blossoming coastal community of Belfast. With talented and active singers as parents, he and his siblings were steeped in the musical world from day one. This fostered a passion for music, and with the help of many great mentors along the way he has established himself as an up-and-coming vocalist, teacher, conductor, and composer in southern Maine.
As a vocalist, Jesse has been hailed for bringing his rich, powerful tone and sensitive interpretations to every performance. He has been a featured soloist with groups across northern New England, including the Portland Symphony Orchestra, OperaMaine, ChoralArt, Amethyst Chamber Ensemble, St. Mary's Schola, and various community groups, such as the White Mountain Musical Arts Bach Festival, and the Lincoln Festival Chorus.
Jesse has been teaching voice since 2009, focusing on healthy practices, sensitive artistry, and strong musicianship. He has worked at the collegiate level, with semi-professional musicians, high school singers, and those who simply wish to expand their experiences later in life. His teachings foster healthy tone production rooted in classical techniques, but can be applied to any and all styles of music, from opera to pop and everything in between. His students have gone on to pursue successful careers in performance, education, and composition.
In addition to performing and teaching, Jesse serves as the Chorus Master for the White Mountain Musical Arts annual Bach Festival, and has worked as the Assistant Chorus Master for several OperaMaine productions. He currently serves as the music director at the First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham, Maine, where he conducts a talented 35-voice volunteer choir.
Jesse is an active composer, with works for choirs, chamber ensembles, and solo voices and instruments. His compositions have been performed in numerous venues, locally and internationally, including honors festivals and collegiate tours. His full-length musical, Letters at Sea, recently debuted and was received with much acclaim by audiences.
Jesse currently teaches choir and piano at Kennebunk High School in Kennebunk, ME. He holds a Master's degree in choral conducting and a Bachelor's in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine, and is an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music. He has had the privilege of working and studying with some of the greatest conductors, teachers, and directors in the country, including Dr. Robert Russell, Dr. Peter Martin, and Dr. Robert Lehmann.
https://www.wakemanmusic.com
In September 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and not being able to have regular rehearsals, let alone performances, Jesse Wakeman joined the GFCC as Artistic Director. Jesse is a Maine native, born and raised on Penobscot Bay in the blossoming coastal community of Belfast. With talented and active singers as parents, he and his siblings were steeped in the musical world from day one. This fostered a passion for music, and with the help of many great mentors along the way he has established himself as an up-and-coming vocalist, teacher, conductor, and composer in southern Maine.
As a vocalist, Jesse has been hailed for bringing his rich, powerful tone and sensitive interpretations to every performance. He has been a featured soloist with groups across northern New England, including the Portland Symphony Orchestra, OperaMaine, ChoralArt, Amethyst Chamber Ensemble, St. Mary's Schola, and various community groups, such as the White Mountain Musical Arts Bach Festival, and the Lincoln Festival Chorus.
Jesse has been teaching voice since 2009, focusing on healthy practices, sensitive artistry, and strong musicianship. He has worked at the collegiate level, with semi-professional musicians, high school singers, and those who simply wish to expand their experiences later in life. His teachings foster healthy tone production rooted in classical techniques, but can be applied to any and all styles of music, from opera to pop and everything in between. His students have gone on to pursue successful careers in performance, education, and composition.
In addition to performing and teaching, Jesse serves as the Chorus Master for the White Mountain Musical Arts annual Bach Festival, and has worked as the Assistant Chorus Master for several OperaMaine productions. He currently serves as the music director at the First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham, Maine, where he conducts a talented 35-voice volunteer choir.
Jesse is an active composer, with works for choirs, chamber ensembles, and solo voices and instruments. His compositions have been performed in numerous venues, locally and internationally, including honors festivals and collegiate tours. His full-length musical, Letters at Sea, recently debuted and was received with much acclaim by audiences.
Jesse currently teaches choir and piano at Kennebunk High School in Kennebunk, ME. He holds a Master's degree in choral conducting and a Bachelor's in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine, and is an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music. He has had the privilege of working and studying with some of the greatest conductors, teachers, and directors in the country, including Dr. Robert Russell, Dr. Peter Martin, and Dr. Robert Lehmann.
https://www.wakemanmusic.com
Kellie Moody, Accompanist
Our Accompanist
In the fall of 2014 we welcomed Kellie Moody as the accompanist for the Greater Freeport Community Chorus. Kellie is a Maine native and resident of Cape Elizabeth. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music, studying piano with Laura Kargul and voice with Judith James. She continues to work closely with USM, accompanying degree recitals, ensembles, juries, and music directing for the Musical Theatre program. She has worked countless college, high school, and community shows and played in the pit at Arundel Barn Playhouse and Maine State Music Theater. She is an active musician throughout the state, playing for high school ensembles, district and state festivals, competitions, and summer camps. She serves as pianist/praise team vocalist at West Falmouth Baptist Church. In addition to GFCC, she accompanies the Southern Maine Music Academy and Una Voce Chamber Choir. When she’s not playing piano, she’s usually at the beach!
In the fall of 2014 we welcomed Kellie Moody as the accompanist for the Greater Freeport Community Chorus. Kellie is a Maine native and resident of Cape Elizabeth. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music, studying piano with Laura Kargul and voice with Judith James. She continues to work closely with USM, accompanying degree recitals, ensembles, juries, and music directing for the Musical Theatre program. She has worked countless college, high school, and community shows and played in the pit at Arundel Barn Playhouse and Maine State Music Theater. She is an active musician throughout the state, playing for high school ensembles, district and state festivals, competitions, and summer camps. She serves as pianist/praise team vocalist at West Falmouth Baptist Church. In addition to GFCC, she accompanies the Southern Maine Music Academy and Una Voce Chamber Choir. When she’s not playing piano, she’s usually at the beach!
