Northwest Choral Society recognized at Windy City Choral Festival
Twenty-six members of Northwest Choral Society ("NWCS") received recognition as a group and for two of its members at the ninth annual Windy City Choral Festival held Saturday, April 16, in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center. Internationally renowned composer, conductor and lecturer Z. Randall Stroope served as the three-day festival's artistic director, rehearsed with the six participating choirs and conducted the finale concert.
The festival selected Northwest Choral Society as one of three choirs to perform individually at the final concert. NWCS Artistic Director Alan Wellman directed the chorus in James Whitbourn's "Kyrie," from Annelies, and Gweneth Walker's "How Can I Keep from Singing".
Two of NWCS's members, Beth Phillips (soprano) from Schaumburg and Stephanie Londono (alto) from Des Plaines, auditioned for Dr. Stroope and were selected to sing solos at the festival's finale concert when over 200 singers from all six participating choirs performed Schubert's "Mass in G".
Dr. Stroope is the director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he conducts the Concert Chorale, Chamber Choir, and Women's Chorus. As a composer, Dr. Stroope has published 125 musical works (instrumental, solo voice, and choral).
"(I am) so incredibly proud of the members of Northwest Choral Society that performed at the Windy City Festival today," Alan Wellman told the group after the performance.
NWCS president and Mount Prospect resident Penny Perles said, "What a great opportunity to perform on the Orchestra Hall stage and to meet and learn from Dr. Stroope."
This year Northwest Choral Society is celebrating its 50-year anniversary with a Golden Jubilee Dinner on April 26, at Meridian Banquet Center in Rolling Meadows. NWCS 2015-16 season concludes with a concert performance, entitled "The Golden Jubilee Celebration" on June 4, 2016, at the Southminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights. Alumni of Northwest Chorus Society who wish to participate in the June 4 celebration are encouraged to contact Penny Perles at nwchoralsociety@gmail.com for further information.
The Northwest Choral Society invites experienced singers to audition to join the organization. Basses, tenors, altos and sopranos with previous choral experience and 17 years of age can obtain additional information about the Northwest Choral Society at www.nwchoralsociety.org.