FROM STAFF REPORTS

By day, Patti Neptune of Chelsea is a full-time legal secretary, but on Tuesday evenings, during rehearsals of CODA Chorus of Winthrop, she is a first soprano.

"I take the top part, the high notes. I started taking piano lessons when young and can read music. I've always sung in church choirs," she said.

Neptune, 62, has been a long-time member of the large community chorus that draws members from a wide radius in the Augusta-Winthrop area, including Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, Monmouth, Sidney, Vienna and Wayne.

Now, her granddaughter, Amanda Racine of Windsor, is blending her own soprano voice at weekly chorus rehearsals.

"When she was going to Erskine Academy, in her last term, there was no room in her schedule for chorus. She wanted to go with me to CODA. It's a fun thing to do together. It gives us a chance to talk, driving back and forth," she said.

This year, her granddaughter has a solo part in the concert, in "Riu Riu Chiu," a Spanish Christmas song.

"It's been a wonderful experience. I really love to sing. After getting out of high school, CODA was a perfect choice -- hanging out with my grandmother and getting to know everybody. I think I may be the youngest member of the chorus," Racine said.

At 3 p.m., April 13, the large chorus, directed by Delmar Small of Litchfield, will present its annual spring concert at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winthrop. The event is free and open to the public; a goodwill offering will be taken.

Racine, 20, was inspired to join the chorus by hearing her grandmother sing at CODA concerts, she said.

"I love her singing," she said.

She grew up in Palermo, the daughter of Laurie and John Racine. She graduated from Erskine Academy in 2006 and currently is working in data entry for the Maine Revenue Service in Augusta.

Neptune works for the law firm Pretti, Flaherty, Beliveau and Pachios in Augusta. She was married to the late Terry Neptune. They had two children, Judie Neptune of Chelsea and John Racine of Windsor. She has five grandchildren.

She is also a member of the Kennebec Performing Arts Company (KPAC) chorus.

Concertgoers next Sunday can expect old songs, classic pieces and whimsical arrangements with a focus on animal kingdom, including John Rutter's "All Things Bright and Beautiful," Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze," and "Habanera" from Bizzet's "Carmen." Flute accompaniment will be provided by Judith Mank and Rebecca Moore.

At 2 p.m. April 27, the University of Maine at Augusta Senior College will sponsor the CODA Chorus concert at the Green Street United Methodist Church in Augusta. Admission is $10, with proceeds to benefit CODA.

Lynn Ascrizzi -- 621-5731

lascrizzi@centralmaine.com