Choir seeks community singers; 2nd concert added to season schedule

Audiences will get a chance to hear Illinois Valley Community College’s Choir perform twice this season.

IVCC’s choir and Ottawa Township High School’s choir will join with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra in celebrating IVSO’s 75th anniversary in a concert on Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Ottawa High auditorium. The concert, conducted by IVSO Director Dr. Dan Sommerville, begins at 4 p.m. Visit https://www.ivso.org/ for ticket information.

The IVCC Choir will also perform its annual concert on Monday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. in the IVCC Cultural Centre. Admission is free.

IVCC Choir Director Jenilyn Roether is inviting singers from the community to perform in the regular choir and for the special performance. The special performance will require strong musicians who are prepared to learn music on their own at home, she said.

Regular choir rehearsals begin Aug. 26 and the IVSO performance rehearsals will begin Oct. 21.

IVCC's choir meets 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays (except holidays) in Main Campus Room D223. No experience is necessary, and anyone 16 and older can join. “Singing in a group is a proven way to improve your health and mood. Our choir is very welcoming of new singers, as we are all here with the same goals in mind,” Roether said.

The IVSO concert will feature Jenilyn Roether, soprano, on selected movements from Handel's Messiah. The IVCC choir will sing select movements from Handel's "Messiah" including "And the Glory of the Lord," "Glory to God," and the "Hallelujah Chorus." In addition, they will also sing the Shaw/Bennett "Many Moods of Christmas - Suite 1,” "This Little Babe" by Benjamin Britten, and "Long Ago" (In the Bleak Midwinter), arranged by Jacob Narverud.

Roether said she is excited by the collaboration, and proud of how the IVCC choir has grown and expanded in the last few years. Email Jenilyn_Roether@ivcc.edu to join or for more information.