PARIS — After about four years of silence, a community chorus in the Oxford Hills has resumed its weekly meetings.

Dan Allen, a local builder, said he was unable to continue leading the chorus because of personal commitments. His situation has changed, so he can work with singers, he said.

The first meeting took place Tuesday evening at the First Congregational Church of South Paris. It attracted 17 people. Three others had said they would join the group but were unable to attend that night, Allen said.

“There’s a lot of potential here, I can already tell,” he said as the attendees practiced their scales.

Allen is no stranger to the cultural scene in the Oxford Hills. He began the ecumenical Christmas program, “Christmas in a Small Town” in 1983. A year later, he was a founder of the Oxford Hills Music and Performing Arts Association. Allen also started the community chorus Hills Alive Chorale in 1992 and ran the Mid-Coast Chorale.

Performances put on by the groups have been very successful, especially the Christmas program that ended in 2000, Allen said. The show was performed at the Second Congregational Church of Norway, which seats 250 people.

“The last time we did it, we did seven performances that sold out in 10 days without advertising,” he said.

The chorus practiced four songs on Tuesday: “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” “Hush! Somebody’s Callin’ My Name,” “Listen to the Music” and “What a Wonderful World.” Accompanied by pianist Faye Hill, Allen broke up the group into different voice ranges and gave pointers on how to improve the sound. Key reminders were to emphasize the sounds and to sing with feeling.

“I am famous for saying, ‘You aren’t giving me enough,’” Allen said.

Michael Davis of Norway started singing with the group in 1989. He said the chorus is different from church choirs or performances requiring auditions and welcomes people of all skill levels.

“If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right,” Davis said.

Midge Leighton of Paris also sang with the chorus for several years. She agreed that the group is more community-oriented, and said she was glad that it was returning.

“Several of us sing in our own church choir, but this is a different thing,” she said.

The meetings of the chorus may move to Thursdays or alternate between Tuesday and Thursday based on Allen’s schedule and pianist Hill’s. The next meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the First Congregational Church of South Paris. For more information, contact Allen at 743-6001.

mlangeveld@sunjournal.com