"I'm getting lazy in my old age!" laughs the indomitable Joan Roth, explaining her plan to step down as director of the Bristol County Chorus this year.

It's not a question that would have even been asked of most nonagenarians, but if you know Roth (and if you have lived in the East Bay for any length of time, there's an excellent chance you do) you know she's in a class by herself.

An educator since the late 1940's, Roth started the Chorus as the concert choir at her Bristol church, St. Mary's, in 1972. It quickly grew to bring in people from outside the St. Mary's community, and was joined by the Roger Williams University chorus (which Roth took on beginning in 1981) for every one of their Christmas concerts since.

With her 91st birthday coming up in October, Roth has decided to place the reins of the Bristol County Chorus in the very capable hands of Jonathan Richter, RWU's choral director. Richter, a graduate of Boston University, Yale, and the University of Connecticut, has a DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) in conducting, and is currently actively directing no fewer than 8 choruses.

Richter, who commutes to RWU from Braintree, Mass., where he lives with his wife and young family, plans to strengthen the connection between the Bristol County Chorus and the RWU community, creating a choral union (non-auditioned) that will see students singing alongside community members, in addition to the University's (auditioned) concert choir. They plan to continue the tradition of a big Christmas concert (already on the calendar for Dec. 3 this year) as well as a spring concert, with a date to be determined.

Both groups have come a long way since Roth began them — the RWU group used to practice in Roth's living room, and now they are a 45-member group, give or take. It is a delight to Roth to see how robust the chorus has become.

There are a lot of years separating the two maestros (Richter noted that 1981, the year Roth began at RWU, was the year he was born), but their shared background gives them a lot in common. One thing Roth claims she's told her students hundreds of times? "Music is not wallpaper. It's not going to go on repeating itself." It's one of those quotes that students will take away, and attribute to a teacher decades later. "My sopranos have a running quote book," Richter said, commiserating.

"Well that's good," Roth said. "At least you know they are listening!"

And what will Roth do with her added free time and seemingly boundless energy? She has no plans to step back from her commitments to St. Mary's Church and the Bristol Rotary Club, for one, though she also suggests she won't be looking to add her voice to the chorus. "It's as old as the rest of me," she said.

"I'm just going to pester him!" Roth laughs, nodding at Richter.

"Yes," Richter said with a smile, suggesting Roth's input will always be welcome. "Happily."


The Bristol County Chorus welcomes new members. Their first practice will be held on September 5, the day after Labor Day, from 6:45 to 9:30 p.m. Location is on the RWU campus, Arts & Sciences building room 157. Questions? Email Jonathan Richter at jrichter@rwu.edu, or call Joan Roth at 401/253-8106.