THE SINGING SISTERS

The Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet just can’t keep from singing. 

On Sunday, Nov. 24, the CSJ Sisters’ choir will hold a “Concert of Gratitude” at the St. Joseph’s Provincial House Chapel. The show, titled “Be Our Guest,” starts at 2 p.m. and is open to the public. 

“We haven’t had this kind of concert for several years,” said Sister Mary Rose Noonan, communications director for the Sisters of St. Joseph. “We are very excited about it, and the sisters are very excited about it.”

Anne Krupski — music director for liturgies at the Provincial House — will be directing the concert. Krupski came up with the idea to do a thank-you show around the holidays for benefactors of CSJ’s recently completed $8 million capital campaign. 

The campaign, called “Continuing Our Legacy,” was done to offset the renovation costs to parts of the Provincial House, which were being converted to house a new PACE Program (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). The program provides medical and social services to elderly individuals, and enables them to remain in the community rather than receive care in a nursing home. The new program, set to open in January, will be used by both the sisters and eligible persons 55 years and over in Albany and Rensselaer counties.

Now, the sisters want to thank the community with the gift of music. 

“What enters the ears goes straight to the heart,” said Krupski. “There’s something about music that goes right to the soul. When you hear the music, something happens inside us. We are moved.”

While the capital campaign inspired the concert, Krupski said the show “is not only for benefactors but for family, friends and people who have supported the community for decades.”

Sister Patricia “Pat” Cairns, choir member, said the sisters have been practicing since April. “There’s been a lot of preparing and I just love the roster of songs. We’ve got a sister playing the drums, a pianist. Loads and loads of talent, and I’m so blessed to be a part of it.”

The choir ranges both in age (from 73 to 88) and experience. Some of the sisters can read music, others are picking it up with practice. Some have previous music or choir experience; others have gained it from singing in church over the years. 

But no matter one’s age or expertise, when all together, the sound that the choir produces “is soul stirring,” said Krupski. “In the beginning, all the sisters said, ‘Do you really think we could do this?’ I said I wouldn’t have chosen this if I didn’t think you could do it!” 

At the show, volunteers will give a brief introduction of each song to “understand the music … and song better,” said Krupski. The set list includes a variety of different genres, such as pieces by the popular 18th century composer, George Frederick Handel; the song “The Prayer,” famously sung by Celine Dion and Josh Groban; hymns and works from the Broadway musical, “Mamma Mia!”

And, of course, there will be something from “The Sound of Music.” “Nuns can’t perform without doing something from ‘The Sound of Music,’ ” said Krupski.

The choir will also be joined by local mezzo-soprano, Kelly Bird, as a guest performer. Other songs, such as “The Lord’s Prayer,” will have portions where the audience will be invited to sing along. The concert will also be live-streamed into sisters’ rooms in the Provincial House, so that even those who are bed-ridden can enjoy the show. 

“They are very excited. The whole community is very excited,” said Krupski. “I am so proud of them. So proud.”