Who Are the Laurel City Singers?
Laurel City Singers is a community-based choir, conceived by Adam Atkins, Roger Atkins, Joe
Butkevicius, Debbie Storrs and Lynn Whittaker many years ago. They recognized a need to
develop a choir that was dedicated to a wide variety of musical styles.
We generally perform three concerts a year, a spring concert, a fall concert, and We are proud
to be the former featured choir in The Boar's Head Festival, sponsored by First Church of
Winsted.
Concerts in the past have welcomed guests such as Native American Flute-man, Joseph Fire
Crow, and the well known percussionist, John Marshall. Our Christmas Concerts have also
featured the Silver Belles and Beauxs.
Click this link to hear a sample of the choir.
Niska Banja was a selection from our International Folkfest Concert.
Our Mission:
- To use our combined talents for the betterment of our community·
- To continue to perform great music from Mozart to Motown, before and beyond·
- To act as a vehicle for singers to explore their vocal abilities through performance
- If you can carry a tune, we’ll supply the bucket!!
Come and Join Us!
For more information please email our secretary, Denise Torson
at denisetorson@hotmail.com
Meet the Volunteer Staff ~
Director:
ADAM P. ATKINS, founding member and director of the Laurel City Singers, is a Winsted
native. He attended the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, where he received a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Music, a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, and a Master of Music
degree in Music Education. Upon completing college, he returned to Winsted to accept a
teaching position at The Gilbert School. He has taught at the school for the past ten years
where he teaches three different choruses and the music theory program. In addition, he is
the Music Department Coordinator. He has also been music director for the Boar's Head
Festival for eleven years.
Mr. Atkins has been seen in many performances throughout the area as a soloist, director and
singer. He has sung with various groups such as CONCORA, Gaudeamus, Leading Tone (an
eight member a cappella group), Waterbury Choral and the Connecticut Yankee Choral, and is
currently singing with Voce.
Mr. Atkins enjoys spending his free time working on his new house in Harwinton and relaxing
with his wife Jennifer, sons Nicholas & Christopher, and daughter Elizabeth and their two cats.
Accompanist:
CYNTHIA ESEPPI RINES has been entertaining audiences with her music for over 25 years.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music/Piano Performance from St. Joseph College, where
she also studied voice, guitar and organ. She is currently the accompanist for Laurel City
Singers and The Gilbert School, and a member of the local bluegrass gospel group, Mad River
Crossing. and the Rivertones. She also plays at various churches and coffeehouses. She enjoys
many types of music, but especially bluegrass gospel. Cynthia is a self-employed CPA and
lives in West Hartland with her husband Jeff.
Administrative Assistants:
DEBBIE STORRS has celebrated life through her love of music. Besides being a tin whistle
and hand-drumming enthusiast, she is a member/co-founder of Laurel City Singers, directs the
First Church Youth Music program. Mrs. Storrs was Administrator and Bookkeeper for
Joyful Noise, a choral organization which had oversight on the activities of the well know
children's choir, Chorus Angelicus, and Gaudeamus, the adult chamber choir. For the past 12
years has served as Director of the Boar's Head Festival, sponsored by First Church of
Winsted. She enjoys music in many forms, and is a member of the bluegrass gospel group,
Mad River Crossing, and the Rivertones.
Debbie is currently Accounting Assistant at Northwest Community Bank, and resides in
Torrington with her husband Gary.
Secretary:
DENISE TORSON
Denise has been with LCS since its inception 13 years ago. Besides LCS, she has been singing
in the choir at the Church of Christ for 19 years. Member of the Music Committee at Church
of Christ and is Treasurer of the Memorial Committee. Participated in the BH for the last 13
years.
Denise is the Development Assistant at Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington. Married for
27 years.
LCS BOARD:
Moderator: Cindy Rines
Secretary: Denise Torson
Treasurer: Debbie Storrs
Artistic Director: Adam Atkins
Members:
John Eggeirng
Ed Giarnese
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| Canceled Until Further Notice |