Manchester men invited to audition for Adrian men's chorus

Chiaroscuro, a community men’s chorus continuing to celebrate its fifth anniversary year, will begin its September membership drive for any men interested in singing with the chorus this season. During rehearsal, guests will join in the singing of four-part men's choral selections so that they can enjoy and experience the unique sound and camaraderie that comes from singing in a men’s chorus. Open Rehearsals/Auditions will be held on all Tuesdays throughout the month of September (September 4, 11, 18 and 25) from 6:30 until 9 pm in Spencer Rehearsal Hall (located across the hall from the Dawson Auditorium stage) at Adrian College where the chorus is artist-in-residence. Members are expected to be able to match pitches well and to learn their parts primarily outside of rehearsal, using provided and proven rehearsal aids.

Chiaroscuro, formed in 2013, is a growing adult men’s community chorus of excellence, whose members come from diverse walks of life. The chorus strives to achieve the highest quality musical experience. The name of the choir is Italian for light/dark and is used in vocal music to describe a vocal technique that results in a warm, resonant sound with great brilliance and carrying power. Chiaroscuro seeks to touch the hearts and minds of the listener with beautiful, expressive singing. The chorus will join the Adrian Symphony Orchestra on May 3, 2019 to present Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. Chiaroscuro has the distinction of being the only community men’s chorus in Lenawee County, Michigan. 

Chiaroscuro is under the direction of artistic director and founder, Susan Matych-Hager, Professor Emerita, Music, Siena Heights University and 2010 winner of the Maynard Klein Award for artistic excellence and a lifetime of leadership in the field of choral music, presented by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) of Michigan. Ms. Matych-Hager recently completed two terms as the Repertory and Standards Chair for Men’s Choirs for ACDA-Michigan. She states that, “Chiaroscuro is looking forward to continuing our celebration of our fifth year as a chorus. Although we have almost tripled our original membership, we are still looking to increase our membership significantly for the coming year.”

For current and up-to-date information, please visit the Chiaroscuro Facebook page at Facebook.com/ChiaroscuroEnsemble or the Chiaroscuro web page at www.ChiaroscuroMensChorus.org. 

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.