Down East Singers will begin its spring semester at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, at Nativity Lutheran Church, 179 Old County Road, Rockport, with registration and voice-placement checks for new singers starting at 6:15. Anthony Antolini of Cushing, the group's artistic director, has conducted the ensemble since 1991. Jennifer McIvor of Wiscasset is the rehearsal accompanist. The singers, approximately 70, travel to Tuesday rehearsals (7-9:15 p.m.) from throughout the Midcoast, from Newcastle to Belfast. Carpooling is available.

The chorus will be preparing for its annual Memorial Day Concert to be presented Monday, May 30, at Camden Opera House at 5 p.m. The performance is the Mozart Requiem, accompanied by the Mozart Mentors Orchestra, and featuring professional soloists Sarah Tuttle, soprano (a Down East alumna now completing a graduate diploma at New England Conservatory); Joëlle Morris, mezzo-soprano; David Myers Jr., tenor; and John David Adams, bass.

Down East Singers is open to all community members, and new singers are welcome.  Sight-reading skills are desired but not required, as long as an ability to match pitch accurately is demonstrated.  A voice-placement check for new singers will be given at the time of registration.

All singers are expected to work on their music at home between the weekly rehearsals.  The membership fee is $60 per semester; high school students sing for free. Music for the semester will be provided on loan free of charge.

For more information, please visit www.downeastsingers.org or call 207-619-0413.