Downers Grove Choral Society happy to be part of Human Race
Mimi Brile could tell you how the Downers Grove Choral Society has been her second home - the way her husband and children pitched in on her fundraising efforts, how the music sustained her when she lost her husband and son, that the friendships built on music revitalized her and even brought her new love.
But for Brile, the story of the Downers Grove Choral Society is one of community connections.
A volunteer chorus of men and women, the group performs an annual series of concerts that brings a range of music and acclaimed guest soloists to West suburban audiences. But the chorus also is known for singing in nursing homes, at the village's tree-lighting ceremony and in the Fourth of July Parade.
Though the singers are volunteers, running the chorus takes quite a bit of money - for guest performers, for accompaniment, for music and space and more. During the days and years of this lean economy, grants and donations are not what they once were.
Once a lead fundraiser for the choral society, Brile understands the financial challenge of running the organization. To help, she plans to take part in The Human Race on Sunday, April 21, on behalf of the Downers Grove Choral Society. Today, she explains why she'd like you to join her.
Walking for DGCS
I have been a member of the Downers Grove Choral Society since the mid 1980s. I joined the society because music and singing have always been a part of my life, particularly classical choral music. I was excited to sing with this group because performances always occur with professional soloists and a live professional orchestra.
I was a member only one or two years before joining the board of directors as a fundraiser. Although I'd never done this before or had any training to fundraise, I wrote a letter and sent it to Downers Grove businesses listed in the phone book. Amazingly, the first attempt raised $2,600. Not much by today's needs but considered a lot at the time.
To raise more funds, bake sales were organized, T-shirts were sold, recipes were collected for a cookbook and a boutique was organized to sell musically oriented notepaper at each concert. To maximize the income for the society, I purchased the notepaper at wholesale prices to donate to the boutique that sold the boxes at retail prices. I encouraged my young son and daughter to sell the items at the boutique under the watchful eye of my husband.
Years later, I was asked to be on the board again, to raise funds and this time to write grants, another daunting task. All was well until 2009 when the largest grant, from the village of Downers Grove, was no longer available due to the financial needs of the village. The challenge of raising $60,000 for three concerts with professional soloists and orchestra became one of survival for the organization.
I am no longer on the board but still work on the boutique and other fundraising projects.
When the idea of participating in the Human Race was brought up, I enthusiastically supported it. To have an organization in DuPage County willing to help not-for-profit organizations raise funds in this economic climate is a Godsend!
I have walked for CROP several times, so the concept of pledges to raise money is easy to understand. The Human Race will enable the choral society to receive small pledges of support from members of the community that it serves as well as give the organization a venue for telling its story.
The Downers Grove Choral Society was founded in 1959 by metropolitan Opera star Sherrill Milnes' mother as a Messiah chorus. The DGCS has offered the singers an opportunity to sing music that is not performed in churches with a professional orchestra and soloists.
The community has been blessed with having excellent concerts performed in the Western suburbs where parking is free and access is easy. The chorus also performs in nursing and retirement homes.
We sing prepared lighter music, which some of the residents would never have the opportunity to hear otherwise. The DGCS also performs for the village of Downers Grove tree-lighting ceremony and participates in the Fourth of July Parade.
The spring concert, "Festival of Psalms," will be performed at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove.
New members are always welcome. A friendly audition is required, for voice placement and a chance for the director to get to know new singers. Prospective members are invited to "try us out" before auditioning. We rehearse Monday evenings at the Indian Boundary YMCA, 711 59th St., Downers Grove.
I really enjoy singing, first of all, and being able to sing with friends, an orchestra and wonderful soloists is a treat. I also love singing classical music. I was raised on it and sang a lot of the masters in high school. So it was a natural thing for me to join.
When my husband was alive, the chorus became a family thing. First it was the boutique, then my son and husband helped with lighting the stage. I lost my husband and son in 1992. The chorus was then a respite and great centering of my life. I could really sink my teeth into the music.
Six years after my tragedy, I met another chorus member who is now my partner. We have many friends in the society that we spend time with other than rehearsals.
Please join our team for The Human Race. For information, view our website at dgcs.org.