Midcoast Community Chorus (MCC), having completed a national search, is pleased to announce the selection of Steven Weston as their Artistic Director. Steven was familiar to MCC, having previously directed the MCC Chorale, the Chorus concert of January 2016, and served this past spring as Interim Artistic Director for the semester and the June 2017 concert. MCC members broke out in joyful applause when informed of Steven's acceptance to become an ongoing presence and inspiration to the future development of MCC.

Steven brings extensive experience as a choral director and musician to MCC, now beginning its tenth year as a non-auditioned chorus "Singing as a community for the community." A native of Maine, he completed a degree in Music Education at the University of Maine and a masters degree in choral conducting at New Mexico State University. He spent many years as a conductor and professional chorister in New Mexico, Nevada and Maine. Currently, Steven continues to perform regularly as both singer and assistant conductor for Vox Nova Chamber Choir of Brunswick and as a flutist. He maintains a large voice and flute studio, and is music director at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast.

MCC members appreciate Steven as a passionate music educator. He calls forth each one's best voice with precision, humor and patience, whether in chorus rehearsal or private voice lessons. At the same time, he ably coaches singers as a team, giving attention to vocal health and the importance of singers and sections listening to each other in order to create cohesive sound.

Steven describes his acceptance of the position of Artistic Director of MCC as a "settling in," a decision for "a change that is exciting to me." In preparing for a concert he selects arrangements that give new breath to old favorites, finds contemporary choral pieces that engage and surprise the listener, includes a piece or two that will extend each singer's ability, and even "choreographs" new features into a performance. Steven's joy is to enable both singers and audience to experience an inner recognition of the beauty and pleasure of music.

Steven aims to secure more venues and music events so that MCC singers can be "out and about" performing more often to bring the joy of music directly into the community.

MCC singers and its Board of Trustees eagerly support Steven Weston's artistic direction to bring a new, broader vision for MCC's future as a mature and growing community organization.

Registration for the Fall semester occurs Monday, September 18 and 25, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., followed immediately by rehearsal from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Camden Congregational Church, 55 Elm Street, Camden.