Kellogg Community College’s Branch County Community Chorus is accepting new members for the Spring 2015 concert season.
Open calls for the choir will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 20, 27 and Feb. 3, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 27 E. Chicago St., Coldwater. There is no formal audition process and no need to prepare music in advance, though prospective choir members must register for the ensemble at KCC’s Grahl Center, 125 Seeley St., Coldwater.
The open call process for those interested in joining the BCCC will include a brief vocal placement assessment and interview with Dr. Gerald Blanchard, vocal music director and music coordinator at KCC. Blanchard said anyone interested in singing — with or without previous experience — is invited to join.
“The 22-plus member ensemble is made up of community members and students performing choral works from various periods and genres,” Blanchard said. “Members have a variety of musical backgrounds, which range from having very little formal music training to those who have degrees in music.”
For the upcoming season, Blanchard said the ensemble is in particular need of lower voices — basses and tenors — but that openings are available in all vocal areas.
“Come lend your talents to this fine group of dedicated community singers,” Blanchard said. “There is place for you in the Branch County Community Chorus!”
The choir’s Spring 2015 season — the BCCC’s 14th season and Blanchard’s 10th as the choir’s director — will include performances of Haydn’s “Missa in Angustiis” (“Mass for Troubled Times”), also known as “Lord Nelson Mass,” on April 11 in Coldwater and April 12 in Battle Creek. In addition to being a popular selection of classical repertoire, the work holds personal significance for Blanchard, as “Lord Nelson Mass” was the first major choral composition he programmed for the KCC choirs during his first year as their artistic director in 2004.
For more information about registering for the BCCC, contact KCC’s Grahl Center at 517-278-3300. Individuals with questions about the BCCC or who are interested in financial assistance to cover the cost of registration can contact Blanchard at blanchardg@kellogg.edu.
About the Branch County Community Chorus
The Branch County Community Chorus, established in 2001, is the community arm of choral programming at Kellogg Community College. Membership is open to anyone who wishes to sing with the group. The College offers three residential choir opportunities in addition to the BCCC, including the Concentus Vocal Ensemble; the Kellogg Singers; and the Choral Union Touring Choir, which includes members from across the other KCC choirs and has traveled on international concert tours to Ireland and Italy. The vocal arts area at KCC also offers a yearly opera workshop, individualized voice lessons, master classes and student recitals. For more information, visit www.kellogg.edu/music or call 269-965-3931 ext. 2566.
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