Elgin Master Chorale appoints new children's chorus director
The Elgin Master Chorale recently announced the appointment of Matthew Bishop as its Children's Chorus Director.
The Elgin resident is a full-time music instructor at Dundee Middle School in West Dundee. He also has been active for several years for Children's Theatre of Elgin and with the summer music program at Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove.
In his role with Elgin Master Chorale, Bishop will be leading the 25-voice Children's Chorus in weekly rehearsals as well as performances throughout the year. Started in August 2016, the Children's Chorus was founded to provide enrichment to the lives of young people in the Fox Valley through choral music.
"Throughout our conversations, I have been impressed with Matthew's passion for choral music and vision for our Children's Chorus and its choristers," said Amy Cho, Elgin Master Chorale board president. "As EMC launches its 72nd season, and the EMC Children's Chorus launches its third season, I am quite excited for how we, the Elgin Master Chorale, continue to improve and inspire a passion for great choral music throughout Elgin and beyond."
Bishop holds a bachelor's degree in vocal music education from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois, where he spent time focusing on instrumental and vocal pedagogy and performance, composition/arranging, and conducting. He brings six years of choral teaching experience, as well as Elgin-area community involvement, to this position. His ensembles have received top ratings at regional contests and festivals.
The Elgin Master Chorale was founded in 1947 as the Elgin Choral Union, the name under which it existed until 2014. In winter of 2016, the board and leadership of the organization made the decision to pursue starting a Children's Chorus program to serve young singers in the Elgin area.
The board undertook a robust strategic planning and funding initiative, and launched their new program publicly in summer of 2016. Rehearsals started that fall. Now entering its third, year, the EMC Children's Chorus provides an opportunity for singers between the ages of 8 and 17 to develop their own musicianship through a high-caliber choral experience. More information about the EMC Children's Chorus is available at emcchildrenschorus.org.