The Keynote Chorus has been around for quite some time but during the pandemic, it struggled. But after a year and a half, and a holiday concert under their belts, the chorus is no longer singing the blues.

Kay Shults, president of the chorus, wants the area to know that the chorus is back and ready to hit the high notes again.

“We’ve taken on a challenging program. Our members are dedicated and love to sing,” she said.

Broadway Live, is coming to Allegany Baptist Church on Maple Avenue in Allegany, N.Y., on June 5 at 3 p.m.

The show will feature songs from popular musicals such as such as “West Side Story,” “Godspell,” “Shrek,” “Sister Act,” “Guys And Dolls,” “Ragtime,” “Les Misérables,” “Greatest Showman,” “Oklahoma,” “Chorus Line,” and “Dear Evan Hansen.”

This is not the usual location and Shults knew it might throw some groupies off. Since the show began, it has been located in Portville, N.Y.

“Due to the pandemic and not being able to hold rehearsals in person, we had to find another venue. We tried to keep things in Portville, at the school, but there were so many restrictions that we couldn’t hold a rehearsal for months,” said Shults.

Shelley Wright, director since 2019, added, “(the church) graciously opened their doors to us. They have been very kind and accommodating in letting us practice and perform there.”

She noted that originally, the Keynote Chorus was held at the school in Portville because it was started by Dave Dunbar, a Portville High School teacher. He has since retired and moved away from the area.

Shults said “he did it all, Dave was the director, and his wife was the pianist. They had 60 to 80 members at the peak. This was a community group for all ages, and it was amazing.”

The group is still a community group, said Shults, just not as large as it used to be. She would like to see more members come out and join.

The Keynote Chorus programming is broken into two 13-week semesters per year. At the end of each semester, they hold a concert. The concert on June 5 is the culmination of 13 weeks of rehearsals this semester.

“If you would like to join us, our next semester begins around September. Rehearsals are just one night a week,” said Shults, after which there is a holiday program in early December.

Wright openly says she loves what she is doing. She said, “a retired music teacher having taught 35 years in Dansville, N.Y. and Bradford Area School District. I have, over the years, directed choirs, musicals, community programs … I am a pianist and accompany and play at different venues. I just love what I do and that motivates me to share with others.”

Wright added, “If you love and need music in your life, come be a guest at our concert on June 5th and then consider being a member next semester.”

In addition to the upcoming main event, the chorus does smaller shows around the community. Recently they performed for the residents at Field of Dreams and will be in Bradford on May 25 for a short performance at the Bradford Ecumenical Home on St. Francis Drive.

Anyone attending the Strawberry Festival in Olean this June will see the Keynote Chorus singing there as well. “The members are energetic and love participating in our Keynote Chorus,” said Wright.

Shults added, “a few years ago, we even had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the Oilers baseball game.” The Oilers in this case are the collegiate summer league team in Olean.

In addition to all the singing and shows, the Keystone Chorus also supports the youth in their musical education.

“After Dave retired, we started a scholarship for high school seniors that bears his name: the Dave Dunbar Scholarship,” said Shults.

Wright added that the scholarship is awarded “every year to a senior who participated in chorus, band or orchestra, art or dance. Applicants must be pursuing a major or minor in one of these areas as well.

“The Dunbar Music Award last year was presented to two deserving students, Devyn Neiman from Portville Central School and Grace Ventura from Olean High School. The opportunity to apply was given to schools in school districts of Cattaraugus-Allegany, McKean and Potter County. Next year’s recipients will be decided as soon as the committee meets to review the applicants.”

Neiman and Ventura will be performing at the concert in June.

Shults continued, “Years ago, Dunbar did all the work and never took any payment for anything. I don’t know how he did it, but to help with operating costs, the grant we receive from the Arts Council and New York is an extraordinary resource.”

The Keynote Chorus has been blessed to have funding and sponsorship made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State legislators, said Shults. Through this funding, some of the positions are now paid positions.

She emphasized that this funding is separate from the scholarships the chorus awards each year.