PERFORMANCE BACKGROUND

The Chorus's performance background over the years has occurred in many different venues and circumstances. In its early days some very notable highlights included three exciting tours of Canada in 1948, l952 and 1970. The 1952 tour included the honor of being the first male chorus to sing in St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.

In the 1960-1961 time frame, the FAMC performed weekly in the Franco American Program on TV 9 in Manchester, NH which provided excellent visibility to the group's versatility and expertise.

The FAMC was invited in 1968 to sing a special Mass in New York City's Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral and shortly thereafter sang on Boston's TV 5 in the Diocesan Television Mass for the shut-ins. The tradition of providing musical benefits for the elderly and needy continued throughout is existence in the form of numerous variety shows and musicals scheduled annually in the Salem and Lowell areas. Christmas was also a special time for the chorus when they visited many many nursing homes through it's years to sing christmas songs for the residents.

In 1980, the group sang on the Mount Washington which is the Flagship of Lake Winnepesaukee and in 1983, for Presidential Candidate and Astronaut, John Glenn. The group also sang in other patriotic settings which include The Old North Church and the USS Constitution in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Chorus had a long standing relationship that spanned more than 25 years performing annually at both St. Patrick's Church during Lowell's Irish Cultural Week, and the Lawrence/Lowell Elks Memorial Services. The chorus was also a charter member of the Lowell Choral Festival.

Other honors bestowed to the Chorus included invitations to perform in the 150th Anniversary celebration of St. Joseph Hospital; Christmas program on Channel 9, Manchester, NH; weddings in both the Harvard University in Cambridge, MA and St. Anselms College Chapel in Manchester, NH; the famed Methuen Organ Halls to benefit the SIDS Foundation; the Dracut H.S. Scholarship Foundation Telethon Fundraiser; the 50th Anniversary Mass Celebration for St. Marie's Parish-Fr. Romeo Murphy, Pastor.

In 1984, the FAMC participated in a concert for the United Way fundraiser, where Tom Bergeron was the emcee. He is famous for hosting "America's Funniest Videos" and most recently "Dancing With the Stars".

In the 1987, the FAMC was chosen to be part of the Lowell Folklife Project, a year long effort to document the life and traditions of the people from the city of Lowell, MA. The materials and tapes are now housed in the Partick Mogan Cultural Center, and permanently placed in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC for use by students and scholars.

In 1999, the FAMC was thrilled to share the stage in a performance with world renown Irish tenor, Ronan Tynan at a packed Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

In the mid to late 2000's, the FAMC teamed up with the Salem Choral Society helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the Lowell Association for the Blind and for the organization "High Hopes" a campaign supporting the Junvenile Diabetes Foundation. This united group has also put on charity Christmas concerts in the Methuen Organ Hall and sang for the 50th Anniversary Celebration Mass in St. Patrick's Church in Nashua, NH for the Oblates Retreat House in Hudson, NH.

Last but not least, the FAMC was truly honored to be hired by over 750 brides and grooms to sing at their wedding mass celebrations. It was a pleasure to perform in so many beautiful churches in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and be a part of so many wedding memories.

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