Singing as a Community, for the Community.
Our History
Midcoast Community Chorus is a vibrant and dynamic nonprofit organization first inspired by Mimi Bornstein in 2005.
With Ms. Bornstein’s creative vision and charismatic leadership, more than 130 community members and local musicians gathered to perform Paul Winter’s Missa Gaia in celebration of Earth Day. The concert, sponsored by the First Universalist Church in Rockland, Maine brought together singers representing several generations and a wide range of musical skills. Performing to a sold out audience, this inaugural offering of the chorus raised over $10,000 for Tanglewood 4-H Camp, the first beneficiary of MCC’s seminal vision to "harness the power of music to build community and change lives.”
In early 2007, the chorus performed the highly acclaimed Neighbor to Neighbor Concert: Music to Feed Our Friends. The concert raised nearly $12,000 for the Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry, an organization focused on food access needs in Knox County. At that point, it became clear there was a community of singers who were enthusiastic and willing to commit their voices and time to support community causes through singing.
In September 2007, Midcoast Community Chorus was launched as an independent organization by Ms. Bornstein with a group of volunteers who brought their dedication and varied skills to this endeavor. Two individual donors stepped forward to sponsor startup costs, a Board of Trustees was formed, and Ms. Bornstein was hired as the Artistic and Executive Director. The board filed articles of incorporation in early January 2008, and in April of that year, received tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization from the IRS. Since then, MCC has continued its mission of “singing as a community, for the community,” not only by performing two significant concerts each year, but also in conferring an annual grant to a variety of other Midcoast Maine nonprofit organizations. To date, MCC has donated over $100,000 to fourteen area groups doing essential work in our community.
After more than a decade of leading the chorus, Ms. Bornstein stepped down in 2017, following the winter concert in January. Steve Weston then became the Artistic Director, with notable experience as a music educator, and professional flautist and chorister. Under his leadership, Midcoast Community Chorus performed concerts that heightened our social awareness and familiarity with multiple genres of music.
Unfortunately, as a result of the COVID pandemic in 2020, the chorus was necessarily unable to rehearse and perform for a period of time. However, in October 2022, a decision was made to come together in song once again. With a background in music education, professional vocal performance, and orchestral and choral direction, Jeffrey Maynard was appointed Artistic Director. Strong leadership from the MCC Board of Trustees, along with Mr. Maynard’s artistic direction, successfully renewed the chorus and its biannual concert offerings. The chorus is currently under the inspired artistic direction of Kim Murphy, supported by accompanist and Assistant Director, Matt Mainster.
Founded on the belief that everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard, and that powerful things happen when we sing together in community, Midcoast Community Chorus is a multi-generational, non-auditioned chorus offering a supportive environment for anyone who wants to sing. Performing music of hope, healing, transformation and peace from all over the world, singers find voice for themselves while giving voice to issues of our time.
Now in its 25th semester, Midcoast Community Chorus provides music performance and educational opportunities, performing a wide body of works from a variety of international and musical genres. We continue our mission driven work of identifying and partnering with other nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to addressing the needs of our Midcoast communities.