City choir calls for singers Bangor children’s group expands; auditions set for Sept. 14

BANGOR – Michele Hall, 50, has vivid memories of singing in a choir in Omaha, Neb., when she was six years old. “I loved to sing as a child,” she said. “I remember wearing a blue choir robe and singing ‘Silent Night.'” As director of the Bangor Area Children’s Choir, Hall has for nine years provided area children the opportunity to make similar musical memories and to enhance their love of singing.

In the coming season, September 2005 to April 2006, the children’s choir will offer a new format – the training choir composed of first-, second- and third-year singers, and the youth chorale composed of more advanced singers.

“Training does not mean training children to sing,” Hall explained. “It means training the children to sing as an ensemble.”

The training choir is open to singers, boys and girls, with voices in the soprano range, no younger than 9 years old as of May 1 and no older than 16 as of Oct. 1.

The youth chorale is open to those with at least two years experience in the treble choir or at the discretion of the director. This year there are 30 open spots for singers. Admittance to either group is by audition. The goal is to have a 50-voice choir.

The membership fee for the training choir is $200, and $250 for the youth chorale.

Hall, a graduate of Bangor High School and the University of Maine School of Music, began her association with the children’s choir when it was known as the Heritage Singers. The organization began in 1992 with Jean Sigler as chorus director and Hall as accompanist. Nine years later, the baton fell to Hall.

“Be careful what you dream, it may come true,” Hall said, laughing. The transition was challenging at first, she said, but she received support and encouragement from parents and others who volunteered to serve on the organization’s board of directors. “I am always amazed by the blessing I receive from parents.”

Hall also teaches classroom vocal music three days at week at Downeast Elementary School in Bangor and is co-organist at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bangor, where she also is a member of the church choir.

The Bangor Area Children’s Choir has thrived, Hall said, because it is part of the large circle of choruses and choirs in area schools and churches that encourage and nurture youngsters to develop an interest in vocal music. It’s a creative cross-pollination that benefits all, she said.

Auditions for the Bangor Area Youth Choir are a two-day process. Those who pass the initial individual audition must return for a group choral audition. Individual auditions will be held 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 540 Essex St., Bangor. Those called back will audition in the second session 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, also at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Singers will learn whether or not they have been accepted into the choir on Friday, Sept. 16.

Choir rehearsals take place at All Souls Church in Bangor.

The choir’s performance schedule begins Dec. 1-4 in “The Nutcracker” with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Other concerts are planned for the Dirigo Pines community Jan. 14 in Orono, the formal winter concert Jan. 21, the cabaret evening in February or March, the American Choir Directors Association choir festival in Falmouth March 18, and the spring concert April 9 at All Souls Church in Bangor.

Admission to choir performances is by donation.

The choir is a nonprofit organization and conducts several fundraisers each season. Those who wish may, at any time, take returnable bottles and cans to Big Red Redemption and credit the amount to the Bangor Area Children’s Choir account.

Those serving on the choir’s board of directors for 2005-2006 are David Casavant, chairman; Lynn Flagg, vice chairman; Cheryl Olsen, recording secretary; Holly Hatch, corresponding secretary; Jim Paton, treasurer, and Michele Hall, Donna Vondereau and Anne Tatgenhorst.

Yvonne Drake serves and choir accompanist and Laura Dearing serves as assistant conductor of the choir.

“My dream for the future of the choir is to keep finding more beautiful music to sing and for more children to have the opportunity to sing it,” Hall said.

To learn about the Bangor Area Children’s Choir, call Michele Hall at 947-2023.