Itasca Community Chorus

Minnesota Spring Rehearsals

2012-01-10T04:56:00.000-08:00

Rehearsals for Minnesota Spring begin January 10, 2012 at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. A concert designed to lift spirits and keep the chorus singing through the grey, windy days, Minnesota Spring is comprised of lighter, quality choral selections from Minnesota arrangers like Rene Clausen and the Christiansens. New to the repertoire is Mankato composer David Dickau, and familiar to the chorus is Grand Rapids' own Elaine Aune. Directed by Cheri Troumbly and accompanied by Cathy Shields, the chorus is a fun place to be on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:00.
The concert is slated for April 15 at Itasca Community College, so if you like to sing and can commit time and talent to this community of friends, please join Itasca Community Chorus as it keeps Itasca County singing.

Messiah Sunday Dec. 11 3:00 p.m.

2011-12-08T06:11:00.001-08:00

The Messiah, one of those signature events thatbinds community together, will be performed by Itasca Community Chorus, Sunday,Dec. 11 at 3:00 p.m. at the Greenway Auditorium.

Parts I and III with 65-member chorus, including the Deer River Madrigal Choir.

Local soloists Jenny Graupmann (soprano), Maria Anoni (alto), John Schroeder(tenor), and Jason Thurm (bass).

Orchestra: violinists Mary LaPlant &Deb Lasik, cellist Becky Loomis, oboist KimYoung, ,Mike Wourms on trumpet. Organist Jan Bilden and Cathy Shields onharpsicord .

Public participation on “The Hallelujah Chorus”

$8 for adults at the door and free to students and children (courtesy of Lake CountryPower’s Operation RoundUp)

Funded in part by an Arrowhead Regional Arts grant

Christmas Carol Sing-a-long, Dec. 2

2011-11-13T12:14:00.001-08:00

Friday evening, Dec. 2 from 4:30-8:00 pm, Itasca Community Chorus members will lead the community in Christmas caroling throughout the downtown. The art galleries in Grand Rapids that doing such a wonderful service of marrying the visual and audio arts will also be open.
Also, available that evening are flyers for the Messiah performance Dec. 11 at 3:00 p.m. at the Greenway Auditorium.
A string orchestra featuring Mary LaPlant and Deb Lasik on violin, Becky Loomis on cello, Kim Young, oboe and Mike Wourms will accompany the choir.

To fund the performance and keep the ticket price at only $8.00, members of the chorus are selling $1.00 tickets for the queen-size Christmas quilt, activities books, and other prizes. So please, help support your Itasca Community Choir: sing with us Dec. 2, donate for a chance to win one of the prizes to be given at the concert, attend the concert Dec. 11 at 3:00 p.m. at Greenway Auditorium.

Itasca Community Chorus in Service & Song

2011-10-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Itasca Community Chorus serves up spaghetti and Italian song, Oct. 25 from 5-7:00 pm at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. $7.00 tickets are available from choir members or at the door. Funds raised through the dinner and quilt raffle will help off set concert expenses not covered by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Grant.

Thanks to all of our loyal supporters, Itasca Community Choir is able to raise the funds to stage a massive community sing of Handel's Messiah, Dec. 11 at Greenway Auditorium in Coleraine.

Local high school choirs and Itasca Community Choir are working hard on the choruses. Vocal soloists Jenny Graupmann (soprano), Maria Anoni (alto), John Schroeder (tenor), and Jason Thurm (bass) complement a full chorus. A number of the Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus have swelled our ranks and with the capable leadership of Cheri Troumbly, Eileen Grosland, and rehearsal accompanist Cathy Shields, the chorus looks forward to another successful season.

Messiah Community Sing

2011-09-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

Itasca Community Chorus meets Tuesdays at Zion Lutheran Church from 7:00-9:00 p.m. All who ever wanted to sing the Messiah and who can commit to regular rehearsals on Tuesday evenings from now until December are welcome.

The core chorus of 60 trained voices welcomes novices and looks forward to an exciting community event at the Greenway Auditorium Dec. 11. Soloists have been contracted, instrumentalists are committed, and the dynamic leadership under director Cheri Troumbly and accompanist Cathy Shields looks forward to an exciting semester of building this friendly community of singers.

For further information, contact Cheri at 245-2392.

First Rehearsal--Messiah Community Sing

2011-09-07T06:30:00.001-07:00

What a fantastic first rehearsal tonight! I'm so proud of all of the singers for giving it their best shot, and putting their best cord forward. And Cathy, you did a wonderful job, as always. If it sounded this good at the first rehearsal, the possibilities are endless! Just think...we'll have at least a whole other choir singing with, then add the soloists, instrumentalists, organ, harpsichord, black tuxes...the works (minus the bling, of course). Can't wait!

Cheri

Itasca Community Chorus Potluck

2011-08-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Let's convene for good food and a good time, Aug. 30 at Harris Townhall. Please respond to Lisa Staber on Facebook. Bring a dish to share. See you there.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Michael Smith Choral Workshop

2011-08-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

All Itasca Community Chorus singers are invited to participate in the Michael Smith Choral Workshop,Sunday, Aug.21 at Zion Lutheran Church at noon. Michael Smith is a longtime friend of Lee and Mary Jo and currently a choral director at Concordia College in Moorhead. It's a great day to start a new season. Please join us.

Don’t Forget: Reply to Mary Jo lmjess@mchsi.com

Tuesday, August 16: Sign up for Michael Smith Choral Workshop.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21: NOON AT ZION
Sandwich Lunch followed by Workshop till 3:00

Tuesday Noon Concerts Deliver the Best

2011-07-21T05:49:00.000-07:00

July 26th!! Yikes, our summer is flying by. Each Tuesday noon we've feasted on incredible music provided by our generous musicians.

This Tuesday noon you'll find us at the Assemblies of God Church at 1585 E US Highway 169. Swing Delivery with Jim Mason and his ever-evolving group of talented musician friends will woo us with the Big Band era and favorites like "In the Mood," "Mr. Wonderful," "Lullaby of Birdland," and "Big Band Boogie." In its 10th year this 12-piece combo just keeps making its music better and better.

Tuesday Aug. 2 the Itasca Music Club will deliver "A Collage of Sound" at the Community Presbyterian Church at the 700 block on North Pokegama. These local instrumental and vocal teachers are set to deliver a program ranging from Vivaldi and Rachmaninoff to a Rhumba by Sanucci.

Aug. 9 features Dr. Mary Ellen Patnaude Haupert at the keyboard. Zion Lutheran at 2901 S HWY 169 hosts this one. Mary Ellen will be delivering a program of Spanish music and she invites one and all to come dance with her.

Closing out the season will be Marvin Havard, Cheri Troumbly and friends, and New Generation.

Itasca County's wonderful musicians just keep delivering so please come, enjoy, and help us all make this another wonderful season.

Psst! Just the other day Jan Holmgren confirmed a date for the Swedish Trio con Brio in June of 2012.

June 14 Arthur Pryor, the Music of JP Sousa Concert

2011-06-05T14:43:00.001-07:00

Arthur Pryor—a name often forgotten but a style that still sets feet dancing. Arhur Pryor served as lead trombonist, composer, and arranger for John Phillip Sousa’s ragtime band. The Liberatti of the slide trombone, Pryor completed six coast to coast tours before tiring of life on the road. He also immortalized much of Sousa’s music by serving as recording coordinator and furthering the work of the Victor Talking Machine.
Tom Patnaude, longtime solo trombonist, and Jim Mason, accompanist par excellence bring Arthur Pryor’s music to life for the Grand Rapids Summer Series audience, Tuesday June 14 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at noon.
Treat your friends to a free 30-minute concert followed by a $6.00 luncheon served by the church women.

Keep Singing

2011-04-14T16:19:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in singing Broadway songs in the spring of 2012? If so, here's a really strong argument.

Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey explains.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42441573#42441573

Support the arts! All of the arts!

Faure's Requiem & Spring Songs

2011-03-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

Sunday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. Itasca Community Chorus will present Faure's Requiem & Spring Songs at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. To complement organist Gwen Degner's accompaniment, director Cheri Troumbly has assembled a small orchestra.

Mary LaPlant, known for her virtuoso violin performances will be doubling on the viola. Add Deena and Olivia Skaja (French horn& violin). Trumpet Mike Wourms is reknowned for his soaring notes as is soprano soloist Jennifer Graupmann. Bill Schnell's baritone and Becky Loomis's mellow cello tugs at the heart.

Gabriel Fauré composed the Requiem, following the deaths of his father and mother. The transcendent joy of the requiem is tribute to the cathartic value of music. Faure was interviewed by Louis Aguettant on July 12, 1902. The following excerpt on the Requiem was originally published in Comoedia (1954, p. 6). The English translation is taken from Robert Orledge's biography: "It has been said that my Requiem does not express the fear of death and someone has called it a lullaby of death. But it is thus that I see death: as a happy deliverance, an aspiration towards happiness above, rather than as a painful experience... perhaps I have also instinctively sought to escape from what is thought right and proper, after all the years of accompanying burial services on the organ! I know it all by heart. I wanted to write something different."

To complement the Requiem, Director Troumbly has chosen water songs. Like the spring thaw these choral settings bring us "Down to the River to Pray" and send us on our way singing like "A flat Crickets and BFlat Frogs."

Thanks to supporting grants form Operation RoundUp (Lake Country Power) and ARAC/McKnight grants funded by MN legacy dollars, tickets are free for students and only $5 for adults.

Come:) Sing Along; Practice Jan. 11

2010-12-20T15:57:00.000-08:00

Calling all singers. Join Itasca Community Chorus. Director Cheri Troumbly requires no auditions, just a sincere desire to sing quality choral music with a fun-loving, hard-working choir. Practice for Faure's Requiem as well as lighter, spring music commences Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7:00pm at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. Folders of music are available for pickup at 6:30.

A number of wonderful singers as well as orchestra instrumentalists have already indicated an interest in collaborating with Itasca Community Chorus in delivering this concert before Easter.

Vivaldi's Gloria and Other Holiday Favorites

2010-12-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Itasca Community Chorus, under the direction of Cheri Troumbly, with the orchestra (Mary LaPlant, violin; Becky Loomis, cello; Butch Schmidt, bass; Kim Young, oboe) is rehearsing for the concert “Vivaldi’s Gloria and other Holiday Favorites.

This concert features Jenny Graupman and Maria Anoni as soloists, the St.Andrew's bell choir, Middle School Art, and a sing-a-long component for the audience.

Next Thursday, Dec. 16, 7:00 pm at Community Presbyterian Church, 703 North Pokegama, Grand Rapids, Itasca Community Chorus invites you to the event of the season---familiar to classical with a bit of everything to please your musical taste.

If you have a conflict Thursday, please join the choir Sunday, Dec. 19, 3 pm at Nashwauk Alliance Church in Nashwauk.

Organist Darcy Reich and pianist Becky Kangas, along with the newly-refurbished venue and beautiful stained-glass windows, further enhance a truly soul-inspiring concert. The concert is funded in part by Arrowhead Regional Art Council and Lake Country Operation Roundup grants so tickets are truly a bargain at $5.00 for adults and complimentary admission for all students, irregardless of age.

Songs of the Spirit

2010-04-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. is your last chance to hear Itasca Community Chorus's exciting spring program Songs of the Spirit. The chorus processes to the traditional South African folk tune"Gabi, Gabi," delivers a set of folk tunes and moves on to a series of jazz numbers.

Featured artists include dancers Marina Whight, Susie Mogan, & Christy Graupmann. On the string bass is Brian Harris and the percussion is manned by David Martin. Two exciting young musicians Graeme Shields as jazz pianist and Guilia Piscitelli, soprano, debut with the choir.

Rousing gospel numbers conclude the concert and the Choir invites the audience to stay for a reception.

$6.oo tickets are available at the door for all adults. Student tickets are free, courtesy of Lake Country Power. That's Itasca Community Choir at Zion Lutheran Church, 7:00 p.m., April 22.

Applebee's Pancake Fundraiser

2010-02-26T13:04:00.000-08:00

This is it folks! Saturday, March 6 from 8:00-10:00 a.m., Itasca Community Chorus will be cooking and serving up those delicious pancake breakfasts. For a mere $6.00, you can not only dine, but be treated to smiling servers and a chance to catch up with old friends. Two light and fluffy pancakes smothered in butter and syrup, two sausage, scrambled eggs, and juice or coffee will start your day right.

So please, come on out, enjoy a breakfast with friends and family, and help keep Itasca County Singing,

Singing "Songs of the Spirit"

2010-01-26T06:42:00.000-08:00

Itasca Community Chorus will present"Songs of the Spirit" Sunday afternoon, April 18 at 3:00 p.m. at he Edge of the Wilderness Performing Arts Center in Bigfork and Thursday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. Cheri Troumbly, Itasca Community Chorus director, reminds us all that "songs of the spirit" call us to laugh and cry while moving toward a stronger, more peaceful place. The concert will do just that as the choir sings folksongs from Israel, USA, and Africa before moving on to a set of jazz songs, and concluding the concert with spirituals. Come, enjoy, and take home with you a greater appreciation for the power of your own "Songs of the Spirit."

Last Opportunity

2009-12-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. is your last chance to catch "A Christmas Journey," directed by Cheri Troumbly. Also, featured will be the Itasca Youth Orchestra, directed by Dan Aalto. The concert concludes with a sing-a-long component followed by a reception. Tickets@$6.00 are still available at the door. Join your friends and neighbors at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. The forty-eight member chorus and 40-member orchestra appreciate your support.

"Journey into Christmas"

2009-12-03T12:53:00.001-08:00

Itasca Choral Society works hard all year round to keep Itasca Community Choir singing. Their latest overture is a pending grant to cover the cost of student tickets. It's Christmas and this Board believes in making quality choral art accessible to all, so Please. . . .

Bring the family. The Board is offering free student tickets with the purchase of adult tickets @ $6.00. Goodies will be available following the concert and donations will be gratefully accepted.

See Itasca Community Choir in song Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3:00 p.m. at Our Redeemer in Cohasset

with Itasca Youth Orchestra Thurs., Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Andrew's in Grand Rapids

A Christmas Journey

2009-11-13T05:54:00.000-08:00

Don't miss Itasca Community Chorus's winter concert "A Christmas Journey," directed by Cheri Troumbly and accompanied by Cathryn Shields. The Board and choir is reaching out for you and your neighbors. Featured are Anton Armstrong's "Hope for Resolution" as well as more familiar British carols.
Journey into Christmas with your friends and neighbors Sunday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Cohasset and Thursday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. Both concerts conclude with a sing-a-long, but Thursday's will also feature the Itasca Youth Orchestra, directed by Dan Aalto.

Support Itasca Community Chorus, your only ecumenical mixed chorus, devoted to keeping live performance of quality choral music alive and thriving in Itasca County. Tickets@only $6.00 are available from choir members and at the door December 6 and December 10.
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101% Participation

2009-10-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

"I'm counting that as 100% participation!" exclaimed fundraising Chairperson Carol Peterson. Itasca Community Chorus has done it again. The annual Spaghetti Dinner was a real hit with patrons and workers as well. With all the ready hands and streamlined organization, everyone had an opportunity to enjoy the wonderful Italian vocal and instrumental music along with the food.
Kudos to Carol and a wonderful committee for leading the way.

Singing in September with Cheri

2009-08-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Cheri Troumbly has joined us as the new director of Itasca Community Chorus. Cheri brings with her six years of classroom teaching experience, professional experience of singing with the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale and VocalEssence under Philip Brunelle.

First rehearsal--Tuesday, Sept. 8 6:45 p.m. Read through of Dec. 10 concert.
Reception to meet and visit with Cheri following.

Join us at Zion for another fun-filled season of quality choral music and camaraderie.

Fun! Fun! Fun!

2009-04-02T07:03:00.001-07:00

Mary Jo reving up the chorus to sing "Skip to My Lou." Lori, JoAnn, and Marina, thinking through the dance.

Thank You!

2009-03-07T15:56:00.000-08:00

Thank each and everyone of you who joined us in celebrating Itasca Community Chorus at Applebee's Saturday, March 7. Thanks to everyone who sold tickets and to the volunteer staff at Applebee's that cooked up breakfast for 137.

We had fun, our patrons appeared to enjoy themselves, and Judy Newman, manager commends us on our ablility to work together. This is such a fun project for us that we reserved the first Saturday, March 2010 for our next pancake feed.

Through earnings from projects like this, we are able to keep our ticket prices low and promote concert attendance for young and old.

Together we do great work and we keep Itasca Community Chorus singing.

Fundraiser

2009-02-05T15:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of you who took tickets and posters. Yesterday I learned that we can sell up to 350 tickets. Just think what that would do in keeping smiles on Scott and Cathy's faces. Applebee's will ask us for a number by March 5. Please give us a reasonable predictor by turning in money from sold tickets no later than Tuesday, March 3.

The Board thanks you for volunteering both your time and enlisting your friends and families support.

How Can We Live but Singing?

2009-01-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

Itasca Community Chorus welcomes all serious singers age 16 through adult. Choral director Scott Shrimpton holds weekly rehearsals at Zion Lutheran Church each Tuesday from 7:00-9:00. Itasca Community Choir is committed to nurturing the growth of serious choral music in Itasca County through energizing, entertaining rehearsals and concerts. We love to SING!