Nearly two decades ago, singer Ute Gfrerer brought her talents to Nahant hoping to inspire and bring people together with the sound of music.
Gfrerer grew up in Austria in a home where singing was the norm. “I have three sisters and we would sing ‘The Trapp Family,’ three part harmonies, and on car rides, just all the time,” Gfrerer said. She recalls a time when she was involved in six different choir ensembles – she would attend the practices and leave only wanting more.
In her late teenage years Gfrerer remembers the time she fell in love with an American boy from Los Angeles whom she visited after high school. She said during her visit she soon found herself wanting to stay and study singing. After spending five years on the West Coast, she moved to Germany to expand her career.
After some years of being a solo artist, she yearned to be a part of a group again and to harmonize with others. She began first with a children’s choir about three years ago to spread the joy she had as a child to the local children. And just last year, she founded the Nahant Seaside Sirens, a local women’s choir ensemble, who are currently preparing for another Christmas show.
In addition to the pure enjoyment of singing, Gfrerer said her truest mission is to make people sing together. “I realize it has healing powers. That when people sing together, you can only be happy,” she said. The cooperation and listening skills needed to sing in harmony with other people is something that truly creates a sense of togetherness.
Gfrerer further expanded on how important the Seaside Sirens group is for some of her singers, “they say that coming to choir rehearsal is the highlight of their week.” Gfrerer expressed her true gratitude towards her singers and the level of care she has for them is openly great.
The progress of the choir group has surpassed even Gfrerer’s original expectations. The women and children continue to surprise her with their growing skills throughout each concert and rehearsal.
This past September the Sirens had a “Seasons of Love” concert. According to Gfrerer, “It was amazing! We had people in the hallway standing and listening to the concert.” She hopes to see the same turnout for this upcoming holiday concert titled “Candles, Bells, and Mistletoe.”
Similar to her previous concerts this one will also include showtunes and singalongs. Tying into her mission to have people sing together, she hopes the audience will join in this holiday season. “It’s freeing and it’s so much fun,” Gfrerer said, “and that’s what I want to create for the community.”
There will be two holiday concerts this year. The first will be on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Nahant Village Church, and the second on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. at the Nahant Community Center.
