Eastport Arts Center

A constituent group of the Eastport Arts Center, Quoddy Voices is a community chorus committed to providing singers of all experience levels the opportunity to work together to learn and present quality music from the many choral traditions. We strive to enrich the cultural life of our community by expanding the awareness and appreciation of choral music. Quoddy Voices was formed in 2014 by a dedicated group of singers hailing from a number of area towns, from Calais to Campobello. We welcome new members, regardless of experience level; no auditions are required. We present two programs each year. Join us, and enjoy making music with a wonderful group of people!

Rehearsals for our December 2018 concerts will begin Monday, September 17. The winter program is titled A Glorious Nowell, and Vivaldi’s classic Gloria in Excelsis Deo will be the featured work. To learn more visit the Quoddy Voices page on Facebook or contact director John Newell at 853-4010 or by email at jnewell384@gmail.com.

John Newell, our founding director, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a graduate of Duke University and earned his M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts. John completed his formal musical training at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he studied with Morton Feldman. While in Buffalo he held the first Edgard Varese Fellowship in composition, earning his Ph.D. in 1979.John has broad experience as a choral conductor in leading school and community groups. He has composed a wide variety of works for chorus, chamber ensembles and orchestra; and has received commissions from a number of professional and amateur organizations.Also an accomplished pianist, John has performed throughout the Northeast as soloist and chamber musician. He teaches music theory and piano at Cobscook Community Learning Center and is on the faculty of SummerKeys, an adult music program in Lubec.

Lee Downing, a Machiasport resident, is a graduate of New England Conservatory in Boston where she took piano lessons with Katja Andy. In Machias, she accompanies the University of Maine Community Chorale and the Washington County Children’s Chorus, and serves as director of Porter Memorial Library. She has raised a family of four children and worked as a copy editor and a college admissions counselor.

Concert Programs

Quoddy Voices delights in presenting a stimulating variety of works from the many choral traditions and collaborating with other local musicians. Click here to view our offerings on past programs.