THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030063
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CRAIG SHAPIRO, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 79 lines
WHEN DON McCULLOUGH stepped down from the McCullough Chorale last spring, there was never any question that the ensemble he founded and developed into one of Virginia's finest would carry on.
In fact, the groundwork was laid back in 1989. McCullough and the board of directors of what was then Virginia Pro Musica were at a crossroads: The chorus could continue as an amateur organization or turn the corner and go pro.
Robert Page, a founding member of Chorus America, was invited to Norfolk that summer to speak at a retreat.
``Chorus America is a service organization, completely non-glamorous. No glitz. No glory,'' Page said from his home in Pittsburgh. ``One of its responsibilities is to go to any member organization and speak on topics like (making) the transition, board structure and marketing, which are dull as dishwater, but necessary.
``The board realized it, but Don was the catalyst for the transition. Since he's gone to Washington, it's a major plus that the board has taken over and become institu-tion-alized.''
A distinguished chorus director and conductor, Page will see firsthand that his advice was heeded when he leads the renamed Virginia Chorale in ``A Choral Renaissance,'' a program of madrigals and motets this weekend at Norfolk's First Presbyterian Church.
He is one of three guest conductors recruited this season - John Guthmiller and Dale Warland are the others - while a replacement is sought for McCullough, who resigned in April to take over the Paul Hill Chorale in Washington, D.C.
McCullough founded Norfolk Pro Musica in 1984. Rechristened Virginia Pro Musica five years later, then the McCullough Chorale, the group broadened its original early-music repertoire to include music of this century. With 24 paid singers, it is Virginia's only fully professional choral ensemble.
In 1990, McCullough formed the 90-member Virginia Symphony Chorus.
``Change is exciting,'' said Mark Coberly, the chorale's board president. ``First, you grieve for what you've lost, then you reassess what you have and what the future holds.
``Our principal goal was to maintain those standards that Don was always striving for - his insistence on top-quality singers and authentic performances infected all of us.''
After McCullough's departure, an artistic advisory committee of singers and board members with music training was formed to plan the 1996-97 season, said Coberly, an attorney with Vandeventer, Black, Meredith and Martin.
A new music director should be named by the end of this season. The search for guest conductors began last May.
``The very encouraging thing about calling outside the immediate region was that everyone we contacted had heard about the group and wanted to conduct,'' Coberly said. ``Only their schedules prevented them from accepting.''
Page, music director of The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, professor of music and director of choral studies at Carnegie Mellon University and director of special projects and choral activities with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, was one of the first contacted.
This weekend's season-opening concerts were pushed back a week so he could be in Norfolk. It will be his third visit - twice to conduct the Virginia Symphony, the other time to conduct that 1989 retreat.
Page gives the credit to McCullough and the board of directors, but he did say he wouldn't have accepted the invitation had it come from just any chorale.
``Julie Andrews once said an amateur rehearses until he gets it right,'' Page said. ``A professional rehearses until he can't get it wrong.
``The repertoire really represents what a group is. If this was some strange group I didn't know anything about, I wouldn't have come in. But knowing its track record, I feel confident and look forward to it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Robert Page
Graphic
WANT TO GO?
What: The Virginia Chorale, with guest conductor Robert Page
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 820 Colonial Ave., Norfolk
Tickets: $12.50 to $20
Information: 627-8375 by CNB