Highlights & Memories A few items from our scrapbooks The Newport Navy Choristers traces its lineage to a sing-a-long at the home of Francis Lull (later the first Director) in 1953.  First known as the Navy Wives Chorale, it became the Navy Wives Chorus in 1956.  Composed initially of wives of students and staff at the Naval War College, the Chorus sang at Navy social functions and performed concerts at various locations in Newport. In the succeeding years the size and reputation of the Chorus grew, and husbands added their voices of those of their wives.  In 1959 the group became the Navy Choristers.  Because of the transience of the military community in Newport, the membership of the Choristers is ever-changing.  Fortunately, this lack of permanency is annually overcome by an abundance of new members endowed with both talent and enthusiasm. In its early years the direction of the Choristers depended upon trained but generally inexperienced members of the Navy community.  In 1960, the Choristers engaged a professional director, Marian Van Slyke.  Mrs. Van Slyke's zeal for musical perfection and expression enabled the Choristers to execute an expanding musical repertoire with professional delivery.  In the spring of 1996 Marian Van Slyke retired and was succeeded by JoAnn Loewenthal. Though music is the universal language, its "dialects" vary with the individual.  Recognizing this, the Choristers strive for versatility in their choral selections.  Our repertoire features the finest music written for the full chorus, male voices, female voices, small groups, and soloists.  A typical program might include a medley of popular and patriotic tunes, folk music and spirituals, and several classical selections. In addition to concerts by the entire group, one of the Choristers' smaller vocal groups, the Nautical Notes, performs for organizations or at locations not suitable for the entire Chorus. Spring 1953 First meeting of what was to become the Newport Navy Choristers     December 13, 1954 The Navy Wives Chorale presents its first “public” concert (for relatives and friends) at the Chapel by the Sea     January 22, 1956 The Navy Wives Chorus participates in the “Music Scholarship Fund Concert” at the Newport Art Association     August 31, 1958 The Chorus sings for a Sunday worship service at the Chapel by the Sea. This service was attended by President Eisenhower who was vacationing at Ft. Adams. The group was asked to sing an additional selection - "In the Garden" - one of the President's favorites, on one hour's notice.     February 1959 “Navy Wives Chorus” becomes “Navy Choristers” (the group began using “Newport Navy Choristers” in the Spring of 1963)     1960 Marian Van Slyke becomes Director     1961 Began charging admission to concerts and donating funds to charity     May 15, 1963 "A Ballad of the Blue and Gray" sponsored by the Preservation Society of Newport County. This performance at Rogers High School was part of the 8th observance of Rhode Island Heritage Week.     April 30 & May 1, 1965 "A Tribute to American Words and Music" sponsored by the Naval Base Officer's Wives Club to benefit the Newport Community Center Building Fund. This performance was recorded and broadcast on WCRQ-FM (105.5) on May 16th; a 2 record set of this performance was produced and sold to the general public. A copy was also donated to the Redwood Library   January 14, 1969 First independent performance of "Choristers 12" (forerunner of the Nautical Notes)     May 3, 1974 Premier performance of "City of Ships" during the "Proudly We Sing" concert at Rogers High School in conjunction with the Rhode Island Independence Commemorative at Newport.  This song is was a poem by Walt Whitman set to music for the Choristers by Wayne C. Ward.     June 18, 1975 Participation in "Navy Night at the Pops" at Symphony Hall, Boston     October 1975 200th Birthday of the U.S. Navy events:   10th - the Chorus sang at the NETC Navy Bicentennial Birthday Ball 12th - participation in a memorial service at the flagpole at Dewey Field 13th - participation in a "Concert by the Sea" at Dewey Field 21st - Performance at USS Constitution (Nautical Notes)     1980 Marian Van Slyke is selected as the 1980 Woman of the Year by the Newport County Chamber of Commerce and receives the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Public Service Award     June 30, 1981 The Choristers sing at the Marble House for a dinner sponsored by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Hayward. January 14, 1969 First independent performance of "Choristers 12" (forerunner of the Nautical Notes)     May 3, 1974 Premier performance of "City of Ships" during the "Proudly We Sing" concert at Rogers High School in conjunction with the Rhode Island Independence Commemorative at Newport.  This song is was a poem by Walt Whitman set to music for the Choristers by Wayne C. Ward.     June 18, 1975 Participation in "Navy Night at the Pops" at Symphony Hall, Boston     October 1975 200th Birthday of the U.S. Navy events:   10th - the Chorus sang at the NETC Navy Bicentennial Birthday Ball 12th - participation in a memorial service at the flagpole at Dewey Field 13th - participation in a "Concert by the Sea" at Dewey Field 21st - Performance at USS Constitution (Nautical Notes)     1980 Marian Van Slyke is selected as the 1980 Woman of the Year by the Newport County Chamber of Commerce and receives the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Public Service Award     June 30, 1981 The Choristers sing at the Marble House for a dinner sponsored by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Hayward.     Decemebr 9, 1989 Nautical Notes sing for the commissioning of USS Normandy at NETC Pier 2 (Oh, was it cold that day!!!!)     December 19, 1989 First performance at the Newport Marriott as part of the WADK/WOTB Christmas broadcast     June 1, 1991 Tribute to the Armed Forces/Desert Storm concert at Fort Adams     1993 Fortieth Anniversary Reunion     March 1996 Marian Van Slyke retires; JoAnn Loewenthal becomes Director     1999 First "Music in Our Schools" concert     May 2, 2002 “Music for a Lifetime” (formerly “Music in Our Schools”) with guest conductor Mac Huff; world premier of “This Is My Homeland”     September 2002 9/11/01 Memorial dedication at the Naval War College Christmas 2002 Pat McGue presents a plaque commemorating our 25th Christmas in Song concert at the First Baptist Church, Fall River, Massachusetts   May 16 & 17, 2003 Choristers Fiftieth Anniversay Concert & Reunion (see 50th Anniversary page)   October 18, 2003   USS Chafee commissioning Christmas 2003 - St. Lucy's, Middletown Christmas 2003 - 1st Baptist Church, Fall River Newport's First Night, 31 December 2003.  The Choristers at the Newport Marriott Hotel. At The Breakers 11/20/04 Christmas in Song at 1st Baptist Church, Fall River 12/05/04 Naval War College Tree Lighting 12/06/04   Last updated April 25, 2005