Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Minnesota Chorale Presents Bridges: Join the Dance!


Breaking News - This just in!
Would you like a discount on your tickets?
Here's how:
Go to https://mnchorale.secure.force.com/ticket

Choose the date you wish to attend. Once the next window opens up, enter the number of tickets you want at the adult rate (full price). The next window that appears has a field for discount codes; enter the word singer.
This will reduce the adult price from $20 (+$2 handling) to $15 per ticket.


Join the Dance!, this year's Bridges program, focuses on Minnesotans with physical disabilities. Clients of the Courage Center--Minnesota's largest provider of rehabilitation services to people with disabilities--will be paired with Chorale singers in the creation and performance of choreographed works, set to music sung by the Chorale.
Under the direction of Chorale artistic director Kathy Saltzman Romey, these sure-to-be memorable performances will feature the premiere of a new work by composer Mary Ellen Childs, commissioned for this program.



Dancers from the Dance Exchange of Takoma Park, Md., will lead singers and dancers in the creation of these works, using the Dance Exchange’s nationally acclaimed methods in developing community-based art. Founded in 1976 by choreographer Liz Lerman, the Dance Exchange has extended the frontiers of dance, specializing in community residencies that explore significant social and personal issues through dance.


About the Bridges Program
The Chorale's Bridges series, begun in 1994 to build musical and social bridges to diverse populations, has been acclaimed as a national model for choral outreach programs. Bridges is a series of musical initiatives that harness the richness and diversity of the global choral repertoire to engage cultural communities and raise awareness of pressing social needs. Each year, the Chorale identifies key program collaborators, whether a community, an organization, an artist, or some combination of these. It then identifies appropriate occasions and venues, locates or commissions suitable repertoire, and tailors a range of outreach, education, and performance activities to accomplish the goals of the program. The cumulative results of more than a decade of Bridges programs include a widening of the audience for choral music in the Twin Cities and a web of organizational and individual connections centered on music but reaching far beyond it.

Two public performances are scheduled:


  • Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
    Music Room, SPCO Center
    Hamm Building, Third Floor
    408 St. Peter Street
    St. Paul, MN 55102
  • Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4:00 p.m.
    St. Richard's Catholic Church
    7540 Penn Ave. S.
    Richfield, MN 55423
Tickets are $20 ($15 for seniors, students, and VSA) and may be purchased online or by calling the Chorale at 612.455.2100.
This will be a lovely program - the music is just great - Mary Ellen Child's piece is delightful, and we'll be singing a wonderful piece by Jocelyn Hagen called "On My Dreams" that your director hopes to program for Vocal Ensemble in the not too distant future. Other pieces include Bob Chilcott's arrangement of U2's MLK and Frank Ticheli's Earth Song. I really encourage as many of you to come as possible - it will be a really wonderful experience.

Minhua Chorus 20th Anniversary Concert

This looks like a fun and interesting concert.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis Presents: Requiem by Bob Chilcott

Date: Sunday October 30th, 2011
Time: 10:30 A.M.
Place: First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis 
900 Mount Curve Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403

What: The FUS Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Sterling, music director Barbara Brooks; Soloists: MCTC Faculty member Debra Gilroy is the soprano soloist, Donald Barbee is the tenor soloist.

Why you want to be there: The music will be stunning, and several of your MCTC choir colleagues will be performing in this event.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

LET'S DO THE TIMEWARP AGAIN!!!

You've heard rumors, you've held your breath, you've tried to stop thinking about it because it would just be too great if it were really true, and too sad if it weren't, but yes... yes... yes - The MCTC Theatre Department will be producing The Rocky Horror Picture Show early this winter!!!

Veteran director Justin Kirkeberg (Artistic director and founder of Candid Theater) is excited to be working on this project, and is looking for singers (he notes that it wouldn't hurt if you can dance a bit, and hey, who can't do the Timewarp?)

Auditions are coming soon - here are the details:


Auditions
All auditions will be held in the MCTC Whitney Fine Arts Theater, 1424 Yale Place
Wednesday November 16th 7-9PM
Thursday November 17th 7-10PM
Friday November 18th 4-6 PM
Saturday November 19th 12-1 PM

Callbacks:
Saturday November 19th 1-4 PM

If you are audition for a choral part only please audition on Thursday
the 17th from 7-10 or Saturday the 19th from 12-1

Please come prepared to sing a contemporary rock/pop song acapella and
dress for movement.

Rehearsals:
December 19th- Feb 7th
Monday-Thursday 6-10 PM (some Fridays as needed)
Saturday 12-5PM
Rehearsal schedules will be determined by demands of role offered

Performances
Feb 8-10th at 7PM
1 & 7 PM on the 11th


This is an opportunity not to be missed! And for a little inspiration, here's a clip from the 1975 film:

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

This video of Jobs' commencement address to Stanford University graduates in 2005 is, to me, moving and inspiring.