American composer highlight of spring concert

The Waupaca Community Choir will begin rehearsing for its spring concert on Tuesday, Jan. 7, in Waupaca High School’s choir room.

The scores will be on sale in the commons/lobby hallway from 6:45-7:30 p.m.

The cost of music and participation will be $30.

Singers are welcome to use their personal scores from previous performances.

The choir library does have complimentary copies available of all selections for those who are financially challenged.

They will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For those using their own scores or borrowing scores from the choir library, a $5 contribution will be requested for membership dues.

The rehearsal will be from 7:30-9 p.m. that day.

Subsequent Tuesday rehearsals will be from 7-9 p.m.

Included in that time frame will be at least two weeks of sectional work for the men and the women.

The choir is sponsored by the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival, and this year will be the 57th anniversary of performing major choral works in Waupaca.

It is a non-auditioned choir and ranges in membership from 90 to 130 singers.

Previous experience is not required.

Those interested in singing may simply show up.

Randall Thompson featured

The choir and civic orchestra will perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5, in the high school’s Performing Arts Center.

Director Dan Wolfgram has selected works previously performed by the choir.

They center around American composer Randall Thompson.

The first half will feature the song cycle “Frostiana.”

Thompson was commissioned by the town of Amherst, Massachusetts to write a piece commemorating its bicentennial in 1959.

The town was known for its association with Robert Frost, who lived there for some years.

Frost had known Thompson for some time, and admired his music.

It was decided that the commemorative work would be a setting of some of Frost’s poetry.

Wolfgram intends to have the poems read prior to each selection.

These works were last performed by the choir in 2010.

The second half will feature Thompson’s “Testament of Freedom,” which is full of brass and percussion.

The text draws from the writings of Thomas Jefferson, with that work previously performed in 2011 and 1996.

I am especially excited to revisit these masterworks by Randall Thompson. The choir thoroughly enjoyed performing them nearly 10 years ago,” Wolfgram said. “I also want to address the issue of weather and attendance. While attendance at rehearsals is important to our journey together, do not let a few missed rehearsals due to poor weather or vacation plans prohibit you from being a member of this experience.”

Singers wishing to contact Wolfgram may visit www.fineartsfestival.org to do so.