Special to the Register
Cooke County —
The North Central Texas Chorale is looking to add more singers for the 2013 spring season. The Chorale is a community-based chorus that has been in existence for over 37 years and has presented quality music in Texas, New York, and abroad.
This spring we are welcoming back Dr. Mike Linder as our Director. Dr. Linder retired from North Central Texas College in 2011, where he was Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Voice and also served as Coordinator for the Music Department. He has conducted choirs around the world including performances in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic. He conducted the Texas Festival Chorus in a performance of the Beethoven Mass in C Major in Carnegie Hall and the InterSchool Orchestra of New York City in 2004. Linder holds the MME from Midwestern State University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Southwestern Baptist Seminary.
Our accompanist will be Marilyn Thompson. She is active in classical and sacred music today. She has performed within the United States as accompanist for international operatic baritone Robert McFarland. Upon completion of her Bachelor's degree from Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, Marilyn expanded her musical education by receiving Associate and Licentiate Degrees in teaching and a Fellowship Diploma in Piano Performance from Trinity College of Music, London. Much of Marilyn’s life has been spent as a church musician accompanying and organizing special musical productions.
The Chorale had a very successful program featuring Handel’s Messiah in December at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Lindsay. Our Mission is to provide learning and understanding of the finest chorale music. As a way to expand our repertoire, we will feature Pop and Jazz music this semester. We will sing at the Cooke County Arts Council Scholarship Concert on April 5 and a major spring concert at a later date.
Although a majority of Chorale members are from Gainesville, many other cities including Denton, Decatur, Pilot Point, Muenster, and St. Jo have been represented. There is no audition required to sing with the Chorale. We do ask that singers have experience singing in choirs. The ability to read music and sing on pitch is also very important.
Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Choir Room at the First State Bank Center For The Performing Arts. This building is on the NCTC campus in Gainesville. Rehearsals will begin on February 5.
We look forward to adding more singers. If you have any questions, please contact the Chorale President, Phil Schenk, at 940-387-1886.
