Keep Itasca County Singing

Give to the Max Day is nearly here, so please remember Itasca Choral Society as you donate to your favorite causes.  Log on to GiveMN.org.  Type in Itasca Choral Society and the site will walk you through the process.  You'll have an immediate receipt in hand, we'll have continuous record of our supporters, and you'll have the gratification of knowing that your gift has helped Itasca Community Chorus keep on singing.

Nothing of quality is cheap and Itasca Community Chorus hires highly qualified directors and accompanists.  Itasca Community Chorus is open to all and dues are minimal.  But that means Itasca Choral Society has to come up with significant funds for music, director, accompanist, rehearsal space, etc.

Your generous support is appreciated and your presence is requested at one of our fall concerts, Dec. 7 at Community Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m. or Dec. 9 at United Methodist Church at 3:00 p.m.  

Minnesota Christmas Sampler

Itasca Community Chorus meets each Tuesday evening to make music and explore the best in choral composition.  Among the many exciting new arrangements is Jocelyn Hagen's "O Come O Come Emmanuel."  To listen check out The Singers/Minnesota Choral Artists' production at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgWrBKRen-g

The double chorus on Stephen Paulus' Silent Night is equally dense. Traditional music with a twenty first century complexity moves us toward the winter solstice and a real appreciation for Jerry Rubino's "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

Catch the chorus in good, old-fashion community singing of patriotic and other familiar music, Friday evening, November 2 at MacRostie Art Center in downtown Grand Rapids, MN at 5:00 or Old Central School at 6:00.  Sing a long and experience for yourself the camaraderie of singing with Itasca Community Chorus.

Minnesota Christmas

Itasca Community Chorus presents Minnesota Christmas Dec. 7 at Community Presbyterian Church and Dec. 9 at United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids. 

Director Cheri Troumbly and accompanist Cathryn Shields have selected holiday music by Minnesota's own composers and arrangers.  The choir is rehearsing music by Grand Rapids' own Brian Stubbs, Stephen Paulus, Matthew Culloton, C. Jennings, Jocelyn Hagen, Joshua Shank, Jerry Rubino, and Rene Clausen.  Alfred Burt's niece Abbie Burt Betinis continues the family tradition of giving a Christmas gift of music in "Run, Toboggan, Run."  The resonance and rhythm of the tune will set you thrumming as the  toboggan races down the slope toward hot cocoa, plenty of laughter, and fond memories of those energetic days of youth.

New members are welcome throughout September.  Itasca Community Chorus meets Tuesday evenings from 7-9:00 pm at Zion Lutheran.  For more information, contact Cheri Troumbly at 218-398-1794.

Minnesota Spring

Itasca Community Chorus is practicing hard, soloists sound great, dancers are polishing their performance, and the accompanists are first-rate.  For an uplifting concert of music composed and arranged by fellow Minnesotans, plan to attend Minnesota Spring,  Sunday, April 15 at 3:00 p.m.  Co-sponsored by Itasca Community College, the choir and its guests will be performing in Davies Hall at 3:00 p.m.  Adult tickets @$8.00 are available from choir members or at the door.  Children and students are free thanks to a Lake Country Power Operation Round-Up grant.  For further information, contact Cheri Troumbly at 218-398-1794.

Minnesota Spring Rehearsals

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.

The Messiah, one of those signature events that binds 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 Kim Young, ,Mike Wourms on trumpet.  Organist Jan Bilden and Cathy Shields on harpsicord .

Public participation on “The Hallelujah Chorus” 

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

Funded in part by an Arrowhead Regional Arts grant

Christmas Carol Sing-a-long, Dec. 2

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.