Community in song: Albany Chorale prepares for 2017-18 season
The Chorale will emphasize its roots in the community this performance season
By Jim Hendricks
ALBANY — Coming off its strongest season in recent years in terms of both members and interest, officials with the Albany Chorale say they are hoping to build on that foundation as the 2017-18 season of four concerts gets underway this fall.
After dropping to 17 vocalists in 2015, the Chorale, which began rehearsals Aug. 14, ended 2016-17 with 40. Chorale officials had thought they might reach that level of participation this season, but the group reached the goal a year early.
Marc Boensel, in his third year as Chorale music director and conductor, said the organization plans to continue to emphasize its roots in the community this season.
The Chorale’s theme, not surprisingly, is “Community in Song.”
“We are emphasizing our group is made up of folks from throughout the community, and concerts are for the whole community,” he said.
This season, the Chorale has moved its rehearsals from Albany State University’s West Campus to Porterfield United Methodist Church at 2200 Dawson Road. The rehearsals are at 7 p.m. Mondays, and Boensel said the carryover interest from last season is evident.
“We are starting with the largest number of new members in many years,” he said.
The season opens Oct. 12 at a new location for the organization.
“We will have a new venue for one concert — St. Teresa’s Catholic Church,” Chorale President Steve McCoy said. “That concert is our opener, ‘Schubert Mass in F.’ This concert, as will the subsequent concerts, will begin at 7 p.m.
“We will also have a wind ensemble to accompany the Schubert Mass.”
The season-opener is the Chorale’s annual scholarship fundraiser. No admission is charged, and donations made at the event go toward funding scholarships for local music students. St. Teresa’s is located at 421 Edgewood Lane.
The Schubert performance will be followed at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 with the Chorale’s traditional “Holidays with the Chorale” concert at its traditional venue, First United Methodist Church of Albany at 307 Flint Ave. Tickets for that concert are $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for children under 10.
Those same ticket prices apply for the Feb. 22 concert “Poetry in Motion,” which will be performed at Porterfield Church at 7 p.m..
The Chorale will wrap up its season once again with its spring fundraiser, which this year will feature jazz music. “All that Jazz” will start an hour earlier — 6 p.m. — on April 21 and will be conducted at the education center at Chehaw. Admission prices for that season-ender will be announced later.
Tickets may be purchased at Parker Music in Albany or from any Chorale member. Visit the Chorale’s website at albanychorale.org or email [email protected].
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