THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505180249
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
The Chesapeake Civic Chorus has some musical embellishments planned for its annual spring concert Sunday at Oscar F. Smith High School.
Long known for its audience-pleasing renditions of old-fashioned spirituals, sacred classical music, Broadway/pops songs and major classical vocal works, the Civic Chorus will add the sweet sounds of a well-rehearsed children's choir and the movements of a newly formed Chesapeake dance company to its 1995 Spring Concert, which takes place on the stage of the new state-of-the-art performance theater at Oscar Smith.
``We're very happy about performing at Oscar Smith,'' said Geraldine T. Boone, the Civic Chorus' conductor and musical director. ``I love it. The seating capacity is just the right size for us but the stage is huge and that's a perfect combination. We're hoping to make this our home, if things work out.''
But what excites Boone most about this Sunday's concert is the addition of the Reflection Choir from the Lindale Church of Christ and an appearance by the Dames Dance Theatre of Chesapeake.
Both will add a new dimension to the Civic Chorus' music, Boone explained.
The evening's program will begin with Handel's ``Coronation Anthem,'' using musical backing by 27 members of the Virginia Symphony.
``This will be the evening's major classical work,'' Boone said. ``The piece has a very triumphant, majestic sound. It's typical Handel.''
In addition, the program will include an excerpt from Beethoven's ``Mount of Olives,'' an a cappella rendition of various spirituals, the ``Battle Hymn of the Republic'' and ``Waters Ripple and Flow,'' a Czech folk song arranged by Deems Taylor.
``When they found out we would have orchestral accompaniment, the Chorus members requested this piece,'' Boone said. ``You can really hear the waters flowing when we perform it with the chorus and orchestra.''
Boone said Sunday concertgoers will be able to hear the excitement flow when it sings with the children's choir.
Although the choir has used young voices once before, Boone said the participation of the Lindale Church's youth choir, under the direction of Nancy Bateman, should offer the concert new dimensions in sound and musical warmth.
``The children's choir will bring extra excitement to the concert,'' Boone added. ``They're uninhibited. They're terrific. They came to the rehearsals knowing all of the music. They knew everything. Nancy Bateman has done a great job with these youngsters.''
``I must admit I sometimes rehearse them to death,'' Bateman said. ``They're ready to go, and they're such perfectionists. We rehearsed with the chorus twice, and my kids knew their parts perfectly. They're ready to go 'round town now.''
The Reflections Choir is made up of 19 youngsters, ages 4 to teen years. They sing at the church on a weekly basis and have had stage experience through their performances in the church's seasonal productions of ``Scrooge: The Stingiest Man In Town'' and its annual Fourth of July celebrations.
Under the direction of Bateman and Boone, the choir will join the Civic Chorus in performances of ``The Wind Beneath My Wings,'' ``Circle of Life'' from Disney's ``The Lion King'' and a medley from Disney's ``Beauty and the Beast.''
So, how did the Reflections Choir join up with Civic Chorus?
``One of our church members, Loula Brown, sings with the chorus,'' Bateman said. ``So when Mrs. Boone was asking for children's voices to join the chorus, Loula said `We have a choir' and we got together.''
And Boone is glad they did.
``They're wonderful,'' she said. ``And I hope this might be the beginning of something.''
Another new aspect to the Chorus' Sunday concert will be the appearance of the Dames Dance Theatre of Chesapeake.
``We like to expand our scope,'' Boone said.
The dance troupe, led by professional choreographer/dance instructor/performer Keith Dames, will dance while the chorus and the Reflections Choir perform the pops portion of the evening's program.
``We're really showcasing as many arts from Chesapeake as we can,'' Boone said. ``We're always doing something different. We exist for this reason. Our aim is to create variety, excitement, and we always like to take chances.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Geraldine T. Boone is conductor and musical director of the Civic
Chorus.
Photo
Keith A. Dames
Choreographer
by CNB