Faure's Requiem & Spring Songs

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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.