Over 50 Years of Making Music!
History
Since their first concert in 1970, The Towne Singers have been providing quality musical programs in south-central Pennsylvania. Founded by Jane and Chuck Butler, the group began as an ensemble of eight singers. Over the last five decades the group has grown to the current ensemble of thirty members. The singers are a diverse group of individuals representing a variety of ages and professions who share a common bond: The love of music. The training and experience is strongly reflected in the wide variety of musical styles presented in performance. The desire for professional growth, fellowship, community service and the joy of making good music define the spirit of The Towne Singers.
Our community was well represented on good will tours of Europe in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2004 and in 2014 on a tour of Eastern Canada. In addition to their annual Christmas and Spring concerts, in July of 2017, they joined with the Festival Orchestra and Chorus in a performance of Brahms “German Requiem” in the Luhrs Performing Arts Center. In March of 2018, they were the opening act for Jay Leno and in June they toured and performed concerts in Italy, Slovenia, and Austria. The Towne Singers have sung in small community buildings and in large convention centers, in tiny country churches and in a large basilica in Paris, France. The desire for professional growth, fellowship, community service and the joy of making good music define the spirit of The Towne Singers. Music, the international language, is the reward.
Mr. Mat Levine
Mat Levine received his BM from Mansfield University and MM from Kent State University before teaching music grades k-12 for 6 years in Corning, NY; Las Vegas, NV; and most recently, Waynesboro, PA. Before leaving traditional education, Mat taught music as an adjunct professor at Wilson College.
In addition to directing the Towne Singers, Mat is a regularly performing musician, educator, and conductor serving as the music director at Christ United Methodist Church in Waynesboro and Associate Conductor for the Mercersburg Community Chorus and Orchestra. Mat also serves as a guest conductor for area colleges, camps, and choral festivals. Mat has multiple performance and conducting credits at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and various venues across Europe.
Mat has also worked as a performer, director, music director, technical director, and consultant for musical theater productions across the tri-state region as well as currently serving as the Managing Director for Chambersburg Community Theater.
Beyond live music, Mat is also an active recording artist and producer under the pseudonym, Jay Mocking. Outside of his solo work, Mat is a founding member, drummer, and producer of the Prog-Rock band, Corner Booth. Releases are available on all streaming platforms.
Mat is also a co-owner and recording engineer at Alley Cat Studios in Chambersburg, PA. At the studio, Mat gives lessons to students of all ages in recording, mixing, and mastering. As a part of the studio’s mission, Mat regularly works with singers, full bands, genre-bending musical projects, authors, podcasters, and content creators to help create professional-quality content in our community.
