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The Boyertown Area Choral Association, also known as "B.A.C.A.", is
a non-professional, not for profit group that gathers for the joy of singing and being together. Our annual concerts are performed
on the first Sunday in December and the first Sunday in May. We also perform programs at other times at various churches in
the area. BACA is a group of 50 to 60 singers that meet on Monday nights for rehearsals during
the months of September, October, November, December, February, March, April and May. We have quite a repertoire of
songs ranging from Classic to Pop, Jazz to Swing to Blues. From Achy Breaky Heart to Helig. We like to think of it as a concert
for everyone. We work hard to produce high quality concerts and try to have fun doing it. We would love to see as many
people come to our concerts and also join us in singing in our concerts.
One of the many goals of
our group has been to establish a scholarship fund in honor of our originating/former director's name: Margaretta R. Lamb.
In 1999 we were able to to accomplish this goal! The Margaretta R. Lamb Music Scholarship recognizes outstanding Boyertown
Area High School Seniors for their excellence in choral music. We have been able to honor many students with this award
and with your help we hope to be able to continue our tradition.
Some points
of interest about our original/former director: MARGARETTA
“PEG” LAMB graduated from Spring City
High School in 1940, where she was Drum Major during her senior year. She received her Music Degree from West Chester State
College, skipped her student teaching year, and by the age of 20 began teaching at Pottstown High School. She stayed there
until 1948. During her college years, she played for Jr. Buckwalter and his Marimba Band. The group
consisted of four marimba players with Peg on the Bass Fiddle. In 1945, she formed Peggy Reid and Her
All-Girl Band. All 9 members (5 saxes, a trumpet, a bass, one girl on drums and one on vibes/piano) were music majors from
West Chester. They performed regularly at Hamid’s Million Dollar Pier in New Jersey. In 1947,
she sang with, played for, and conducted the Pottstown Glee Club. Also that year, she met William F. Lamb and was married
in 1948. Together, they ran Lamb’s Music Store in Pottstown. By 1950, she had formed the “Melody Maids”
and that year was their first concert “Auld Lang Syne”. Also around that time, she was teaching at the Wyncroft
School in Pottstown. From there she went on to teach Elementary Orchestra at Pottsgrove. From 1967 to 1983, she taught Music at Boyertown Senior High School, where she was active
with Arlen Saylor and the Band Front. She also started the “Choral-rama”, a choral competition for area schools.
While at Boyertown High, Peg produced six Musicals and an Operetta, as well as maintaining a top notch Choral Ensemble that
traveled and performed extensively. In addition, they sang at Lenten Services, and both Spring and Christmas Concerts.
In addition, she organized trips abroad for the Chorus and Orchestra so they could perform at the Harrogate
Festival in England. As well, she organized trips to operas and theaters in Philadelphia and New York, giving students a first-hand
appreciation of the Arts. Her classes at the school included General Chorus, Select Chorus, Theory, Music History, Solfeggio,
Orchestration, and Jazz. Additionally, Peg was constantly preparing students for County, District, Regional, and All-State
Choral Festivals. At this time, she began working on her Doctorate at Temple University, Philadelphia. In 1983, Peg started teaching Vocal Music at Boyertown Elementary School. She
then took over the Elementary School Orchestra until her retirement in December 1990. In June of 1990,
an alumni choral group was formed, and a concert was given in honor of Peg and all the work she has done for the community
of Boyertown. This group, The Boyertown Area Choral Association, sometimes refered to as BACA, has now branched
out to include the community. The goal of this group from the onset has been to establish a scholarship
fund in Mrs. Lamb’s name. It took us 9 long years, but we have accomplished our goal. BACA has traveled with Peg to Scotland, England, Hawaii, Alaska, Scandinavia and America’s
Magnificent National Parks. During the summer of 2005 some of us traveled to New England and Nova Scotia.
To
date, Peg has conducted over 500 performances with various professional groups, and has attended workshops given by Dr. Elaine
Brown, Robert Page, Dr. Robert Wagner, the late Moses Hogan, and Suzuki. Peg formerly was the Principal Bass
of the Pottstown Symphony. Peg commuted from Ocean City, N.J. every Monday during
the months of September, October, November, December, February, March, April, and May for twenty years to rehearse with our
group. Her commute was over 100 miles each way. She was very dedicated until her retirement in May 2010.
Margaretta R. Lamb Scholarship Recipients
Kathryn (Katy) Grace Bourne Andrea Hartman Christopher
P. Sterner Lindsey B. Riegner Tara Rhoads Joseph
Barlow Nicole DiMattei Peter Leibensperger Matthew A. Harris Molly Keck Julia Kershetsky Shaina Ward Alena L. Lerch Orin Strunk Theodore J. (T.J.) Harris If
you would like more information, or you would like to make a donation to the group, please contact us via slysinger@comcast.net.
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