The Edgewater Singers

About

                  

The Edgewater Singers began as a group of five friends who decided one wintry evening in the early 1980’s that they would love to entertain friends during the holiday season by caroling. Over the next few years, several concerts were held for friends and family, and more singers joined in the chorus. In December of 1984, eleven singers engaged another four friends for a holiday program, followed by an expanded program in the spring of 1985.  Since it’s original founding almost 40 years ago, The Edgewater Singers has continued to provide free choral concerts to Chicago’s North Side.

The group can often be found participating in artistic and socially relevant neighborhood events. Please become part of our part of our storied history by becoming a member or seeing one of our performances!

Mission

The Edgewater Singers is a community choral ensemble whose mission is to promote the knowledge and appreciation of choral repertoire through performances offered free to the public.  The Organization prepares choral music programs for holiday concerts and concerts designed around a theme with narration for performances in the spring.  It holds concerts in area churches and performs outreach concerts of each program in facilities that provide services to seniors.  Such concerts are a service provided to the community.  Moreover, the Organization seeks to educate and promote emerging talent in the community and to offer solo vocal and instrumental performance opportunities to rising professional artists.

Artistic Leadership

Philip Seward, Artistic Director

Composer, pianist and singer, Dr. Philip Seward’s work includes
many vocal works, choral and theatrical. Some of his award-
winning works include Hans Brinker, High Fidelity, A House
Divided, How to Date A Coloratura, Juan Peron’s Hand, Les
Dames à trois, Nobody Likes Retsina, and Sincerely Yours. Lyric
Opera commissioned Soup and A Noteworthy Tale. The Chicago
Tribune hailed his vocal writing as possessing “the charm of lovely
light opera.” Sonnet premiered at Symphony; Blessing WFMT
premiere, many a cappella choral works, liturgical and secular, via
streaming platforms.
Mr. Seward holds a DMA from the University of Salford, a Masters
from Northwestern University, and Bachelor degrees from Wabash
College. He serves on the Music Faculty at Columbia College
Chicago.

 

 

Mary Clare Barker, Accompanist
Mary Clare Barker holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music
Education from Western Michigan University and a Master of Music
degree in piano performance and accompanying from
Northwestern University.  She lives in Chicago and is an active
soloist, accompanist, composer, and lecturer.
Mary Clare retired from music director at St. Gertrude in 2023 and
now enjoys accompanying the Edgewater Singers and The Sounds
Good Choir at the Admiral as well as weekly accompanying for
services at Sacred Heart Schools. In addition to subbing in the
archdiocese of Chicago, she still enjoys giving lecture recitals and
exposing people to women composers and their music