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Cantemus loses its director
By Faith Tomei/ Ftomei@Cnc.Com
Thursday, September 9, 2004

After 10 years as music director for Cantemus Chamber Chorus, John Hoffacker is stepping down. In a letter to the 37 members who make up the North Shore group, the young director expressed his regret at leaving what he described as "the most wonderful people on earth."

Hoffacker will move this month to Minnesota with his wife, Claudia, and 5-year-old twins Sam and Kate, where Claudia has accepted a promising job offer.

"Ten boards of directors have built New England's most successful chamber chorus, and I have no doubt that Cantemus will continue to soar," Hoffacker said in his farewell letter.

Cantemus, which means in Latin "Let us sing," was founded in 1983 by Edward Lundergan of Salem and operated on a shoestring budget, with each member's $100 dues going to Lundergan's salary as director and accompanist. There were several directors in the first 10 years, with members of Cantemus auditioning prospective directors.

"In 1983, one candidate took our breath away. Dr. John Hoffacker auditioned and led us in rehearsal. We had never seen such energy! This man was on fire!" Donna Gale wrote in the Cantemusicnews newsletter commemorating 20 years as a chorus.

Gale, a soprano and founding member of Cantemus, said that Hoffacker "had an excellent ear, caught every mistake, and easily communicated what he wanted from us."

Under Hoffacker's leadership, Cantemus membership has grown to almost 40 singers, who audition each year for admission into the group. "Our level of professionalism has grown considerably – we're a tightly run, more involved group, and we have earned a respectable position in the music community," Gale said.

Cantemus singers from Ipswich are soprano Elaine Gomperts, who is board president this year, altos Dorothy Monnelly and Chris Reif, soprano Anne Maguire, tenor Gary Freeman, and bass Nat Pulsifer.

Monnelly, a member of Cantemus for 14 years, says Hoffacker developed the group, perfecting the sound and choosing the music that went with the voices. "People joined the group just to work with him," she said.

"John has a real vision and breadth of musical experience. We have all grown and benefited working with him. And we have had so much fun," Monnelly says, adding that the singers will truly miss Hoffacker and his family.

Cantemus singers will miss Hoffacker, but they'll continue to make music. They're currently lining up a guest conductor for the fall and will do an official search for a permanent replacement over the next several months.

They will continue to meet each Tuesday to prepare for the December concert season, when they'll present a Christmas concert at Christ Church in Hamilton Dec. 4, at Central Congregational Church in Newburyport Dec. 5, and at Castle Hill in Ipswich Dec. 12.

For more information on Cantemus, visit www.cantemus.org.