BARD COLLEGE COMMUNITY CHORUS SEEKS SINGERS FOR DECEMBER PERFORMANCE OF VIVALDI'S GLORIA
ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.-The Bard College Community Chorus, directed by James Bagwell, is looking for experienced singers to join the chorus and perform Vivaldi's Gloria on December 11 at Bard College. Bagwell, an assistant professor of music and director of choral music at Bard, recently took over direction of the chorus last semester. He said that community participation was a wonderful addition to the performance of Verdi's Requiem last spring, with approximately 50 percent of the chorus composed of area residents. "The community feeling that was engendered between Bard students and the area singers was really wonderful," Bagwell said. "Everyone had a great experience and got a kick out of the chorus."
According to Bagwell, the Community Chorus offers experienced area singers a venue to perform within the oratorio chorus tradition. Members pay no dues or music fees, and singers have the opportunity to perform with a full orchestra at the concert. No audition is required for singers to join the chorus. Rehearsals will be held weekly, from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., beginning on Tuesday, September 11, at Olin Hall on the Bard campus.
Bagwell, who was recently appointed music director of the Light Opera of Oklahoma, maintains an active schedule throughout the United States as a conductor of choral, operatic, and symphonic literature. He is the principal guest conductor and artistic adviser of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, which he conducted this season in a performance of Bach's B Minor Mass, and serves in the same capacity with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Singers, a professional ensemble that he founded. Bagwell is also the music director of Cincinnati's May Festival Youth Chorus and director of the May Festival Summer Chorus. He has trained choruses for several major American orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and Indianapolis Symphony.
For further information about the Bard College Community Chorus, call the music program at 845-758-7250.
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