South Holland Grasp Chorale welcomes new music director with Songs of Celebration – Chicago Tribune

South Holland Grasp Chorale begins its 2022-23 season with a brand new music director.

Conductor Philip J. Bauman took on the position following Albert M. Jackson’s retirement after 23 years.

“I’ve all the time been concerned with vocal music a technique or one other, working with both choirs or with some opera corporations that I’ve labored with prior to now, so I’ve all the time had an affinity for the voice,” stated Bauman, a longtime resident of Bolingbrook, Illinois, who now lives in South Bend, Indiana.

“I simply love working with vocalists and singers. I do know this can be a very good choir and an excellent choir so when the place turned open, I used to be interested by it to see the place this may go.”

South Holland Grasp Chorale opens its season with Songs of Celebration on Oct. 2 at First Reformed Church in South Holland, Illinois; and Oct. 16 at St. Thomas Extra Church in Munster, Indiana; with Bauman conducting and longtime accompanist Marilyn Bourgeois of Frankfort.

“We’re celebrating issues as well timed as at this time’s headlines, such because the coronation, so we’re singing a coronation anthem. We’re singing choices that may be at a marriage. We’re celebrating patriotism and Bible leaders,” he stated.

“I needed to have a wide range of issues that remember life and moments that we discover ourselves utilizing track to specific ourselves.”

Items embody the coronation anthem “Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened” by George Frideric Handel, “Easy Presents” by Aaron Copland, a medley of Armed Forces songs referred to as “American Heroes” organized by Carl Strommen, and “Complete Reward” by Richard Smallwood.

The autumn live performance additionally options “Carry Each Voice and Sing” organized by Heather Sorenson, which Bauman famous celebrates the African American voice, and “The Final Seven Phrases of David” by Randall Thompson.

“There’s a number of items the place they’ll be requested to hitch us. There’s some viewers participation,” Bauman stated.

“‘The Lord Bless You and Preserve You’ by John Rutter is an attractive piece that makes use of the voice extraordinarily properly. I’m hoping that when the viewers hears this and the place it’s positioned within the live performance, they do really feel blessed with what we offered to them.”

When he was music director of La Porte County Symphony Orchestra in Indiana, Bauman collaborated with Jackson and South Holland Grasp Chorale for performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in 2007 and Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” in 2008.

The latter is what Bauman, who can be music director and conductor of Michigan Metropolis Messiah in Indiana and manufacturing supervisor of South Bend Symphony Orchestra in Indiana, cited as considered one of his high achievements.

“It was a wonderful celebration. It was such a problem to place collectively,” he stated.

“All people walked away from that being so happy with the accomplishment and people behind the scenes know the way arduous it was to make that occur. We patted ourselves on the again throughout for that one in order that second has all the time stood out in my thoughts.”

The choir has greater than 100 members, together with Illinois residents of Beecher, Blue Island, Bourbonnais, Calumet Metropolis, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Nation Membership Hills, Crete, Dolton, Flossmoor, Frankfort, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Kankakee, Lansing, Lynwood, Matteson, Manteno, Mokena and Oak Park.

Illinois members from Olympia Fields, Orland Park, Park Forest, River Forest, South Holland, Thornton and Tinley Park and Indiana members from Cedar Lake, Chesterton, Dyer, Griffith, Hammond, La Porte, Munster, St. John, South Bend, Schererville and Valparaiso are additionally a part of the chorale.

“I’m struck by their ardour and their dedication,” Bauman stated.

“They provide very good outcomes at each rehearsal, which is gratifying, so I’m having fun with attending to know them. Their dedication and their musicality is kind of excellent.”

South Holland Grasp Chorale’s 2022-23 season of 4 p.m. concert events continues with Hymns of Reward on Nov. 20 at The Parish of Ss. Joseph, Anne & Emeric, 17951 Dixie Freeway, Homewood, Illinois; the place newcomers are welcome at 7 p.m. Mondays for rehearsals.

The Music of Residing on Could 14, 2023, at St. Maria Goretti, 500 Northgate Drive, Dyer, Indiana; and Could 21, 2023, at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 10701 Olcott Ave., St. John, Indiana; shut out the season.

“I definitely need to hold the custom alive of singing nice choral music,” Bauman stated.

“One in all my main targets is usher in youthful voices. We’re all the time searching for newer voices.”

Songs of Celebration

When/The place: 4 p.m. Oct 2 at First Reformed Church, 15924 South Park Ave., South Holland, Illinois; 4 p.m. Oct 16 at St. Thomas Extra Church, 8501 Calumet Ave., Munster, Indiana

Tickets: free

Info: 708-210-2913; southhollandmasterchorale.org

Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer reporter for the Day by day Southtown.