Opportunity and Challenge!

So here we are in NYC with a fabuous director in Trey Jacobs. Our rehearsals have been 4 intense hours of good choral work with detailed instruction on how to enunciate so the audience can understand and shape each phrase so just listening to tone communicates deep grief, terror, etc.  We've learned about echo consonants among other techniques.  The soprano soloist uses these to the point where her final "pacem" is delivered like a kiss. 


The frustrating part is that my electronics are not connecting and I can not share the fabuous photos being taken by our singers and VIPS.  For a taste try Facebook and ask to befriend Glenna Tolrud.  She and Connie Daigle's daughter Linnea have been in constant motion and recording the highlights with their cellphones.  We're hoping to create a power point to show some of these at our home concert in Greenway Auditorium, Sunday, Aprill 26th at 4:00 pm.  Tickets are on sale or from Itasca Community Choir members:  $10 for adults with students and veterans free courtesy of a Lake Country Power Opeation RoundUp grant. 

New York New York

April 8, 2015 at 6:00 am thirty-one Itasca Community Chorus singers and their supporters depart from Grand Rapids for Carnegie Hall in New York City.  There they will rehearse for 14 hours with Distinguished Choirs of New York City Director Trey Jacob as he brings 250 vocalists from around the nation and full orchestra together to perform Ralph Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem cantata on the Carnegie stage Sunday evening April 12. 

The event Itasca Community Chorus has worked long and hard for under the direction of Sam Evan and accompanist Stuart Boehr is days away, but before the cadre of singers departs, we have two intense rehearsals ahead.



Please follow us here, on twitter, and  Facebook as we share pictures and snippets of our New York tour.

In Awe

Last night Itasca Community Chorus rehearsed with the baritone and soprano soloists Loren Squires and Susan Saxhaug Loeffler.  The chorus was "in awe" to the point where Director Sam Evans first said, "Don't clap now" only moments later to say "You can clap now!"

Since Day 1 the chorus has been in awe of what accompanist Stuart Boehr does on the piano, but last night sent us out the door still singing.  Week by week the sections have gained in their ability to produce music some thought inaccessible to us.  Last night section leader Lenora Evans commented, "That was easy!" Until April 26th we will all work on that tricky timing or the unusual interval, but the key words here are "We will ALL work!"  And happily so. . .

Posters are out; tickets are on sale from choir members at $10 per adult so please reserve Sunday, April 26th on your calendar.  And allow a bit of extra time because this time we're performing Ralph Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem followed by hits from Broadway on the historic stage in Greenway at 4:00 pm.  Student, active military, and veteran tickets are free. Reception follows.

New York New York

The long anticipated tour to Carnegie Hall in New York City is nearly here.  April 8 thirty-one singers and their supporters will depart Grand Rapids at 6:00 am.  Once there vocalists will mass with a national choir of 250 voices and full orchestra under the direction Trey Jacobs of New York City Choirs of Distinction to rehearse before performing Dona Nobis Pacem on the Carnegie stage Sunday, April 12.

Since January Itasca Community Chorus has been rehearsing not only Ralph Vaughan Williams' Prayer for Peace (Dona Nobis Pacem), but also Broadway hits from Mama Mia, Wicked, and Hairspray as well as the title piece "New York New York."

April 26 at 4:00 pm. the full choir will present all of the above at the historic auditorium in Greenway.  In keeping with their mission, Itasca Choral Society has obtained assistance from Lake Country Power, held a Soup'r Good fundraiser, and obtained an ARAC grant to keep tickets very affordable.  Student, active military, and veteran tickets are complementary and all others are $10.  Tickets are available from chorus members, on Facebook, and at the door.

Following the concert is a reception at which returned Carnegie singers will share their experience.

New York New York is funded in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature’s general and arts and cultural heritage funds.

New York New York!

Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 6:30 pm at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Itasca Community Chorus starts the countdown for our tour to Carnegie Hall April 8-16, 2015.  When we began this process in May, little did we realize how quickly the time would fly.

In addition to the Ralph Vaughan Williams' arrangement of Dona Nobis Pacem, which those on tour will sing with the national mass choir of 250 voices with full orchestra on the Carnegie stage, April 12, the full chorus will be singing a number of Broadway tunes.  Director Sam Evans rattled these off for us last Tuesday evening at the Magnum viewing gathering, but to see them for yourselves, we'll need you to come a little early to sign out music for the April 25th? concert at Greenway Auditorium in Coleraine.

We're especially looking for tenors and basses so if you think you'd like to sing, try us out.  We have experts to help everyone sound better than you ever thought you could.  And the fun you'll have as you practice and socialize with members of Itasca Community Chorus.

For more details email Sam:  Itasca Community Chorus@gmail.com

O, Magnum Mysterium

Here's your chance.  You too can roll up all the darkness in life, squeeze it into a ball until it melds into new relationships, and feel it emanate bright, peaceful rays.  Join the Itasca Community Chorus in concert Nov. 30 at 4:00 pm at the Reif Performing Arts Center in Grand Rapids. "O, Magnum Mysterium"  explores the mystery of the advent season in classic and contemporary choral compositions from Lauridsen, John Rutter, and Paul Christianeon among others.

Morten Lauridsen's "O, Magnum Mysterium"  was composed for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. The arrangement sets the ancient Latin text meaning "O, Great Mystery" against the contemporary dissonant chords. Those dense chords then give way to a rising line of awe as the animals contemplate the birth of a new babe in their midst. 

Lauridsen is in the business of building relationships.  For this number he juxtaposes the poverty and filth of the stable with the richness and wonder of the Christmas season. These bursts of light and peace exploding out of darkness are becoming Lauridsen's trademark.  Perhaps this goes back to his early years when he saw many dawns from forest towers.  Then there's his impassioned reading of poetry, his contemplation of great works of art, and his fascination with connectivity.  

Collaborating is the Itasca Brass with some special new arrangements from tuba player Phil Kneeland.  Other members of the quintet are Deena Skaja, French horn; Make Wourms and Sander Grotjohn, trumpet; and Tom Patnaude, trombone.

 $8.00 adult tickets are available from chorus members or at the door.  Veterans are free as are student tickets, courtesy of an Operation Round-Up grant from Lake Country Power.

Sunday, Nov. 30 4 pm Reif Center Grand Rapids.  May the light come out of the darkness for all.

Sing Your Way Home

Itasca Community Chorus invites all serious singers to join the choir Tuesday, Sept. 2 6:15 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MN.


Artistic Director Sam Evans reminds, "Never louder than beautiful!"


Step out of your comfort zone (or maybe into it)!  Join a great group of singers for a lot of fun and concentrated singing as Itasca Community Chorus strives to produce the best choral music available. If you’re serious about making beautiful sound, camaraderie and have time, Itasca Community Chorus resumes rehearsals Tuesday evening, September 2 at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. 

Committed to making quality choral music accessible to all, Itasca Community Choir is open to all serious singers, teenage through adult.  Artistic Director Sam Evans, Concordia Moorhead music graduate, and accompanist Stuart Boehr bring their rich imaginations and considerable expert experience to helping each singer do his/her best.  Soloists are generally chosen from within the choir and rank amateurs sing next to seasoned professionals.

The fall semester features a combination of familiar and new Christmas selections.  Google Morten Lauridsen’s  Oh Magnum Mysterium for a taste of how you too could sound in concert with Itasca Community Chorus.  At the other end of the spectrum is Ben Allaway’s  “Freedom Come”  and,  of course,  in between are the familiar Christmas melodies set in new and refreshing choral arrangements. 

Collaborating in concert with Itasca Community Chorus on Nov. 30 at the Reif is the Itasca Brass. 

Spring semester focuses on Vaughn Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem , the selection Itasca Community Chorus members will sing in collaboration with other choirs from around the nation at Carnegie Hall in New York City, April 2015.  You too could sing on the Carnegies stage next spring. Details and itinerary are available from artistic director Sam Evans at itascacommunitychorus@gmail.com. 

Still thinking it through?  If you missed Prayer of the Children or Wanting Memories last year, contact artistic director Sam Evans or call ICTV to determine when the performances will air again.  

Better yet begin singing with Itasca Community Chorus Tuesday evening, Sept. 2 from 6:15-8:30 at Zion Lutheran Church, 2901 Highway 169S, Grand Rapids, MN.