Singer Spotlight: Alyce Reavis
May 2026
What was your first exposure to SVC … what/who inspired you to audition?
My first time hearing about SVC was a couple of years after I moved back to Bloomsburg from Maryland, so around 2019. I was talking to a co-worker who liked to attend your concerts and said I should check it out. At that time, I really wanted to get back into singing but was pretty nervous that I could hold my own. In 2023, I learned about the Bloomsburg Singers and reached out to their director to audition. My husband encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. After singing 3 concerts with Singers, I found confidence and realized that I really never forgot the things that I learned as a music major at Mansfield, even though I was an RN for 12 years after also teaching music for 12 years. In January 2025 I decided to take the plunge and audition for SVC.
What do you enjoy most about being a member?
There are so many things I love about being part of SVC. First, is the level of repertoire in the pieces. Alzheimer’s Stories really challenged my skills to learn an entirely new-to-me choral work. I was so excited to sing the Verdi Requiem this spring as it’s one of my top 5 favorite choral works. The other singers are amazing! They are kind and very talented. They inspire me to come prepared to rehearsal each week to not let them down. I love riding with my carpool of “Bloomsburgians” to rehearsal!
How do you like to spend your free time outside of SVC?
I love to walk and try to do so every day. I love to hear the birds, feel the breeze, greet neighbors, and am always listening to my favorite classical tunes. (I have a very eclectic taste in music and you might be surprised at my playlist.) I enjoy planting flowers and feeding birds, especially hummingbirds. It’s a lovely sight from my deck with a glass of wine in the evening. I still sing with the Bloomsburg Singers, and in the Heart of Pennsylvania Barbershop Chorus as well. I also recently joined SVC Limited. Lastly, but certainly not least, in the middle of May I will be starting my new role as grandma!
Why do you think it is important to support the arts in our communities?
The arts are the foundation of humanity. In my opinion, if we do not have the arts, we have nothing. Artistic expression allows the artist and the audience to explore the many intricacies of the human life experience in a way that can provoke thought and provide an outlet for strong and powerful emotion. Particularly with music, it is an activity where no matter what your background, heritage, culture, or language you come together with one language and one mission.
What excites you most about the next era of SVC under a new conductor/music director?
While I will miss Dr. Payn (I just can’t call him Bill) and his sweet and gentle spirit and immense knowledge of choral music, I am excited to see how Dr. Hopkins will shape and mold the organization for the future. I look forward to learning more about improving my vocal technique and about choral works that I have not performed in the past. I feel like we will be moving from one legacy and creating another for the next generation of singers.
