GNCC's History

The GNCC started in Fall of 2015 and grew out of a need for more after school music ensemble experiences in the Greater Newburyport area.  Gina McKeown and Allison Balentine founded the organization after starting an after school chorus at the local upper elementary school. 

GNCC has worked with over 250 students by providing them an opportunity to sing together and meet as musicians.  These students originate from Newburyport and the surrounding communities, including Amesbury, Newbury, West Newbury and more! ​

Co Founder, Mrs. Balentine hanging out with GNCC members during a break period.

Co Founder Gina McKeown warming up voices before a performance at the Belleville Church with the Newburyport Choral Society

Remembering Co-Founder
​Allison Balentine 
​1968-2022
Seven years after GNCC's creation, our co-founder Allison Balentine passed away after a courageous battle with colon cancer. She was a vibrant, loyal, fun, honest, and compassionate wife, mother, teacher, and friend. Allison loved music, theater and reading books and stories. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Bucknell University in 1990 and her Master of Education from Gordon College in 2015. She loved teaching children as a reading specialist and a music and third grade teacher at Bradford Christian Academy in Haverhill. Aside her work in schools, Allison was an assistant choral director of GNCC. Her energy was vibrant and students absolutely adored her. We truly would not be here today without her! 

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PAST PERFORMANCES (2015 - 2026):
GNCC Spring Sing "10", Firehouse Center for the Arts - May 18th, 2026
​Chococoa Baking Company & Cafe, 'Live Music Series', May 17, 2026
GNCC Winter Sing, Central Congregational Church Dec. 10, 2025
Theater In The Open's Haunted Maudslay - October 18 & 19, 2025
GNCC Spring Sing, Firehouse Center for the Arts, Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
​Chococoa Baking Company & Cafe, 'Live Music Series', Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024
GNCC Winter Sing, Central Congregational Church, Dec. 17th, 2024
Carols & Cocoa, The Wolfe Club's event, Waterfront Park, Dec. 6, 2024
Theater In The Open's Haunted Maudslay - October 19, 2024 
GNCC Spring Sing 'Let's Go to the Movies', Rupert A. Nock Auditorium, Thursday, May 16th, 2024
Chococoa Baking Company & Cafe, 'Live Music Series', Sunday, April 28th, 2024
GNCC Winter Sing, Central Congregational Church, Dec. 14th, 2023
Newburyport Choral Society Winter Concerts, Dec. 9 & 10, 2023
Carols & Cocoa, The Wolfe Club's event, Waterfront Park, Dec. 1, 2023
Maritime Custom House Open House, Dec. 1, 2023
Theater In The Open's Haunted Maudslay - October 22, 2023
Yankee Homecoming Parade, Newburyport MA, Aug 6, 2023
​GNCC Spring Sing, Firehouse Center for the Arts, May 17, 2023
Jabberwocky Bookstore Sing, April 25, 2023
GNCC Winter Sing, Central Congregational Church, Dec. 15th, 2022
Newburyport Choral Society Winter Concerts, Dec. 10 & 11, 2022
Invitation Nights - Market Square, Newburyport, Dec. 9th 2022
Theater In The Open's Haunted Maudslay - October 22 & 23, 2022
GNCC Spring Sing, Firehouse Center for the Arts, May 15, 2022
NAC Spring Arts Festival, Waterfront Stage Newburyport, May 15, 2022
Cantemus Chorus Spring Concert, Belleville Church, May 1, 2022
GNCC Winter Sing, Central Congregational Church, Dec. 16th, 2021
Invitation Nights - Market Square, Newburyport, Dec.3, 2021
The Candy Man Sing - Pleasant Street, Newburyport, Nov. 2nd, 2021
Theater In The Open's Haunted Maudslay - October 23 & 24, 2021
Newburyport Education Foundation Awards Night - The Deck Restaurant June 8, 2021 
Theater in the Open's Adventures in Zoomland, youtube show - July 2021
Mayor Donna Holaday's State of the City Speech - Newburyport Senior Center Feb. 6, 2020 
GNCC Winter Sing, Central Congregational Church, 14 Titcomb St. Newburyport Monday, Dec. 16th, 2019 Newburyport (*Donations at door)
Greater Newburyport Village Annual Holiday Gathering, Dec. 18, 2019, Senior Center, Newburyport 1:00 p.m.
Newburyport Choral Society Winter Concerts, December 7 & 8, 2019
Invitation Nights, Market Square Newburyport, December 6th, 2019
​Theater In The Open's Haunted Maudsley Trail, October 19 & 20, 2019
​GAR Public Library, West Newbury, Saturday, Oct. 19th,2019 11:00 a.m., Juniors Ensemble
Firehouse Center for the Arts "Get Vocal" A Vocal Competition Monday May 20 & Tuesday, May 21,2019
Salisbury Public Library, (*Juniors ONLY) Saturday May  11th,2019 10:30 a..m.
Avita of Newburyport, Sunday May 5th,2019 1:00 p.m.
Mass ACDA Big Sing Central, Fay School March 16th,2019 Southborough MA
Hello Spring! Sponsored by Friends of NYS, 12:15 p.m. March 2nd, 2019 Bresnahan Elementary Shool Newburyport
Mayor's State of the City Address, ​February 27th, 2019 Senior Center Newburyport
Greater Newburyport Village Annual Holiday Gathering, Dec. 19, 2018, Senior Center, Newburyport 1:00 p.m.
GNCC Winter Sing, Central Congregational Church, 14 Titcomb St. Newburyport Monday, Dec. 17th, 2018 Newburyport (*Donations at door)
Winter Concert with Newburyport Choral Society, December 8 & 9 2018, Bellevlle Church, Newburyport (*Tickets available through Newburyport Choral Society website)
Invitation Nights, Market Square Newburyport December 7th, 2018
​Holiday Sing, Salisbury Public Library, November 17th, 2018 Salisbury
Spooky sing-a-long, Newburyport Public Library, October 27th,2018 Newburyport
Haunted Maudsley, Theater in the Open, October 20 & 21, 2018 Maudsley State Park, Newburyport
Yankee Homecoming Talent Show, July 30, 2018 11:00 a.m. Waterfront park, Newburyport
Bresnahan School Stem Fair, May 2018 Newburyport
"Charlie" a play by local author, Donna Seim and directed by Anna Smulowitz, May 2018, Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport 
GNCC 'Takes the Stage', April 30th, 2018 Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport  -
This performance was made possible by the Firehouse Center of the Arts Community Non-profit Grant Program
Big Sing Central Choral Festival, March 17, 2018 Fay School, Southborough MA
Newburyport High School Basketball Game, Monday, Feb. 12th 2018, NHS
Mayor Donna Holaday's Innauguration, Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - City Hall Newburyport
GNCC Winter Sing Concert, Tuesday, December 19th, 2017 - Hope Church
​Newburyport Choral Society Winter Concert, December 9 & 10, 2017
Anna Jacques Hospital Tree Lighting, Newburyport, Tuesday, December 5th, 2017
150th Celebration of Belleville Church in Newburyport,  December 3rd, 2017 
Invitation Night Downtown Newburyport,  December 1st, 2017 
Port Follies, Newburyport FireHouse to support Roof Over Head, September 22, 2017
Newburyport Chamber Music Festival Concert, World Premier Concert of "I Could See the Sky" by Kile Smith in Collaboration with Newburyport Chamber Music Festival, Newburyport Choral Society, and The Choir School in Portsmouth.
Newburyport - August 19th 2017
Portsmouth =  August  20 2017
This performance was made possible in part by the Alfred Nash Patterson Grant through Choral Arts New England and the Massachusetts Cultural Council of West Newbury MA
Yankee Homecoming, Old Fashioned Sunday & YH Talent Show, Newburyport - July 2017
GNCC Spring Sing "Singing Through the Ages!" May 9, 2017
Bresnahan STEM Fair April  27, 2017 
ACDA Big Sing East Choral Festival, March 2017
Newburyport Mayor Donna Holiday's State of the City Address February 2017
GNCC Winter Sing December 2016
Newburyport Choral Society Winter Concerts, December 2016
AnnaJacques Hospital Tree Lighting December 2016 
Atria Merrimack Place December 2016 
Yankee Homecoming "Old Fashioned Sunday" at Bartlett Mall July 2016
Inn Street Celebration June 2016 
Newburyport Choral Festival May 2016 
Spring GNCC concert May 2016
West Newbury Council on Aging May 2016
Newburyport High School Basketball Games - May 2016
ACDA Big Sing Central, Choral Festival -   Fay School, Southborough MA , March, 2016
Mayor's State of the City Address, Newburyport - Jan. 2016
Winter GNCC concert - Newburyport, December 2015
Invitation Nights in Newburyport - December 2015
Santa Parade - December 2015
Gingerbread Party @ Wenham Museum, Wenham, December 2015
Newburyport Choral Society,Winter Concert, December 2015

Performance Opportunities:
We are looking for other opportunities to sing for the Greater Newburyport communities. Please contact us if you are interested in having the chorus perform at a community event or function.

The Greater Newburyport Children’s Chorus mission is to provide an opportunity for students 
to enrich their lives with quality vocal music education, choral performances and 
a joyful, lifelong habit of participation in 
music and community.

The chorus aims to serve the community through musical performances and the students will be exposed to a wide variety of music genres. 
​Through teamwork, friendship and acceptance of young musicians with ethnic, economic and religious diversity, the chorus will provide the participants with a supportive, educational environment that will promote excellence in music learning.