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July 2008                Archive | Ads | Submissions | Links          Online Edition #7

Gratiot County Chapter


On May 5, 2008 the Gratiot County Midstatesmen Chorus hosted three area high school choirs from Alma, Breckenridge, and Ithaca along with approximately 50 fourth and fifth graders from St. Louis as we presented a "Spring Happening" joint concert from an enthusiastic crowd of parents, friends, and Alma Masonic Pathways residents at the Masonic Home's Doig Chapel. 

This endeavor, put together by Ken Smith, which has become an annual event, provides each choir and any small ensembles they wish to present, as well as the Midstatesmen Chorus, an opportunity to perform for the peers and a very receptive large audience. 

The finale of all the choirs joining with the Midstatesmen as the entire group sings two appropriate compositions en masse.  The combination of the youth and mature male voices is very special. 
 
cartoon quartet

Spring Happening
(click image to enlarge)

by Woody Ely
VP Marketing & PR
Midstatesmen Chorus




This year the entire ensemble sang, "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" and "This Is My Country" as the program finale.  The nearly 250 voices singing together in the acoustically splendid Doig Chapel once again provided the singers and listeners a truly wonderful musical experience. 

The schedule of the afternoon's program includes a group rehearsal of the two mass compositions, directed by two high school directors,from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  This is followed by a "get acquainted" pizza party for all participants from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the chapel's large conference room.  Then we all meet back in the chapel proper for the joint concert which lasts from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  This schedule works well since students don't miss any school time and allows them to get home early enough to do their homework and also allows the elderly Masonic Pathways residents to retire early as is their normal habit.
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