DES PLAINES, IL, May 11, 2010 – The Northwest Choral Society (“NWCS”) will present its season-finale concert on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, IL and Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. at Edison Park Lutheran Church on the northwest side of Chicago.
The concert is entitled “Magical Movies and Musicals”. The program will feature an eclectic mix of music from movies and musicals stretching from the past to the present. Compositions from such notables as John Williams, Elton John, “Fats” Waller, and the always entertaining Oscar and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” will be presented. Popular medleys from “The Secret Garden”, “Mamma Mia!”, and “Jersey Boys” also will be included.
The chorus will have two guest conductors. Kevin McKelvie will conduct the first half of the program and Alan Wellman will conduct following intermission. One of these two gentlemen will be chosen as music director of Northwest Choral Society for the 2010 – 2011 concert season. Pianist Lori Lyn Mackie will accompany the chorus.
A complimentary preconcert lecture and discussion of the program’s music will be hosted by chorus member John Morrison 45 minutes prior to the concert on both days.
Tickets for the “Magical Movies and Musicals” concerts are $16 for adults and $13 for students and seniors, and may be obtained online at www.nwchoralsociety.org, by calling 224 / 585-9127, or an hour prior to each concert at the respective church. Southminster Presbyterian Church is located at 916 East Central Road, Arlington Heights and Edison Park Lutheran Church is located at 6626 North Oliphant Avenue, Chicago.
Kelvin McKelvie is organist/choirmaster for St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Park Ridge, IL, where he is responsible for playing at all worship services and conducting the parish choir and treble choir. In addition, he teaches private voice and organ and is a professional member of the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. With the latter, he has soloed at both Orchestra Hall and the Ravinia Festival. For 13 seasons, he also sang with the Lyric Opera of Chicago chorus under the direction of Donald Palumbo. Mr. McKelvie has been heard locally as an organ recitalist at Fourth Presbyterian Church, St. James’ Cathedral and most recently Holy Name Cathedral. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in organ and conducting, respectively, from Northwestern University, as well as a Certificate Degree in Vocal Performance form DePaul University.
As a respected teacher, Alan Wellman is passionate about the potential and impact of music on children and adults. As an innovative conductor, he has been responsible for the founding of one chorus, expanding and enhancing the vision of several community choruses, and collaborating with peers and colleagues for the benefit of music appreciation. His specialties are in the preparation and performance of music of the Baroque era and the study of chironomy and Gregorian chant. Mr. Wellman completed advanced studies in chant at the Abby St. Pierre de Solesmes in France in the summer of 2008 and has been invited back to attend the workshop in July 2010. Mr. Wellman is on the faculty of The Catherine Cook School in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. He received a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from California State University, Los Angeles, CA and his Bachelor of Music with honors in Music Education – Vocal/Choral Emphasis from Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL. Mr. Wellman also holds Language Certification in German from the Inlingua Institute, Munich, Germany.
NWCS pianist Lori Lyn Mackie is from Michigan, and now lives in the Chicago area. She has studied at Interlochen, the Bay View Conservatory, the Blossom Festival School and the Koninklijk vlaams Musiekconservatorium van Antwerpen, Belgium. She holds Bachelor Degrees in Piano Performance and German from Albion College and a Master Degree in Piano Performance/Chamber/Music/Accompanying from Northwestern University.
Frequently heard in concerts across the Midwest, Ms Mackie often plays with Lira Ensemble, a group dedicated to the performance of Polish music. She served nine seasons as rehearsal pianist for the Chicago Tribune Charities’ production of “The Nutcracker”.&nb
sp; Ms Mackie was featured in 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2008 as piano soloist with the NWCS chorus and orchestra.
Ms Mackie has served on the staffs of the Latin School of Chicago, Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre and Light Opera Works of Evanston. She is currently director of music at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Burbank, IL and is pianist for Anshe Tikvah in Arlington Heights.
“Magical Movies and Musicals” is the third of three concerts the Northwest Choral Society will perform for the 2009-2010 season. Founded in 1965, the Northwest Choral Society is a non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the appreciation, understanding and performance of a wide variety of outstanding choral literature. Its adult membership resides in Chicago and the northwest suburbs.
This year’s concert performances by the Northwest Choral Society are dedicated to the memory of John H. Melcher, who was the organization’s Music Director for 30 years and passed away in June 2009.
The Northwest Choral Society invites experienced singers to audition to join the organization. Basses, tenors, altos and sopranos with previous choral experience and 17 years of age can obtain additional information about the Northwest Choral Society at www.nwchoralsociety.org.
PHOTO CAPTION: Mary Jane Matecki of Mount Prospect sings a solo as the Northwest Choral Society performs in a concert earlier this year.