The Club

Throughout its history, the Apollo Club has most often sung in small venues:  gatherings for

the display of civic pride, such as the dedication of a monument or building, or where

singing could provide solace, such as at a memorial service, or cheer, such as at a

retirement community celebration, or at seasonal programs open to the public at historic

locations in the Boston area. In 1874, the Apollo Club sang at the funeral services of Senator

Charles Sumner and received a note of appreciation from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In

1901, the Club was invited to sing at President William McKinley's memorial service at

Faneuil Hall. And in 1924, when the George Francis Parkman Memorial Bandstand was

dedicated on the Boston Common, 79 Apollo members sang to the accompaniment of the

Boston Municipal Band.

In its 130-plus years of existence, the Apollo Club has evolved from a large chorus with a

classical music orientation to a glee club whose repertoire comprises folk songs, love songs,

sea chanteys, show tunes, and classical and semi-classical compositions. The Club performs

for a variety of civic, religious, and professional organizations throughout the Greater

Boston area. In addition, it presents two public concerts each year, a Christmas concert at

the historic Old South Meeting House in Boston and a spring concert at the Nahant Town Hall

(see the Concert Schedule for dates and times).  The Club is a member of the Greater

Boston Choral Consortium.

More information on the Club's origins and early years under the baton of its first music

director, B.J. Lang, can be found in this history of the Lang family in Masachusetts.

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Accompanist Rob Humphreville

Rob Humphreville has been the club's

accompanist since 1991. According to Rob,

late one summer Flossie asked him to "come

over and meet my boys and play piano for

them."  "I wasn't sure what it was about,"

Rob recalls, "but the next Tuesday I went to

the Harvard Musical Association and I've

been there ever since."

Rob is a freelance organist, pianist, and

choral conductor throughout the Boston

area. In addition to playing in churches and

synagogues, he also plays for Brooks School

in North Andover, Bethany Convent in

Arlington, and Temple Isaiah in Lexington.

Equally at home with both popular and

classical music genres, Rob especially enjoys

accompanying silent movies and was singled

out by the Boston Globe for his creative

improvisations.

A Men's Chorus Founded in 1871

Click to see our

2009-2010

Membership Roster

Director Flossie Dunn

Florence A. "Flossie" Dunn has served the

Apollo Club as both accompanist and

director for over 50 years. She began her

professional music career as church organist

at the age of 12. Her choral experience

began with the Berkshire Chorus and

continued as an accompanist for the Troy

(NY) Vocal Society and as a teacher at the

Emma Willard School. Miss Dunn later

enrolled at the New England Conservatory of

Music and was accompanist for the school's

chorus. She has also accompanied the

Cecilia Society, the Chorus Pro Musica, and

the Trinity Church choir.

Miss Dunn retired as a music teacher from

the Brookline Public School System but

continues to accompany the Coolidge

Corner Community Chorus in addition to her

duties with the Apollo Club. She has also

served as a long-time member of the Alumni

Council at the New England Conservatory of

Music.