Those rehearsals produce two concert cycles per year (with two or three performances of each), one in winter and the other in spring. This year's winter concert will take place in January rather than its customary December slot, with a Mothers Day concert following in May.

Lately the chorale has been working hard to be visible outside of those concerts, as well, performing singing Valentine's - including requests from Gov. Lynch and his wife in each of the last few years - while also finding other community opportunities.

The chorale was also the staff choir for the concert event Video Games Live in 2010, has taken part in the Merrimack County Savings Bank's pops spectacular and recently performed the National Anthem at a Fisher Cats game.

The chorale has also created a scholarship program for students attending music schools and will this year be expanding the youth chorus they sing with during the winter to include the Purple Finches from the Concord Community Music School.

"That's one of our guiding principles, not only how we get the music we are learning to the community but to support music-making in the community in general," Johnson said.

The chorale has performed in just about every available venue in the city, from the Universalist Unitarian Church to St. Paul's Church to Christ the King to the Capitol Center and the Audi, and is pleased to be part of a thriving arts and entertainment scene.

"There's a lot of pride in Concord, which also has a symphony in the Granite State Symphony Orchestra and the Capitol Center and Red River," Johnson said. "For a town of about 40,000, we're really proud to have substantial arts organizations that would fit on the shoulders of a bigger town."

Which is why Johnson plans on guiding the group forward, hopefully with continued support and a growing fan base.

"Concord Chorale is absolutely one of the most rewarding types of jobs that a conductor can have if they are interested in community as well as great music-making," he said. "It's easy to imagine many happy years of exciting programming."

Those interested in learning more about the chorale and perhaps joining are welcome to attend an open sing Sept. 10. at 7 p.m. at the Concord Community Music School.