MANSFIELD, PA— Area singers are invited to join the Mansfield University Festival Chorus for the spring semester. The Chorus, directed by Peggy Dettwiler, will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. in Steadman Theatre beginning January 16.
The chorus will prepare for two performances of Annelies by James Whitbourn, the first major choral setting of The Diary of Anne Frank, with faculty soloist, Alissa Rose, singing the role of Anne Frank.
The chamber ensemble will feature violinist Max Buckholtz, Richard MacDowell on clarinet, Bradley Holtman on cello and pianist Eun-Joo Kwak.
The performances will be held on April 7 at 7:30 p.m. and April 8 at 2:30 p.m.
The rehearsals and performances will certainly be a profound experience for all musicians involved. Anne Frank’s diary, written while she was hiding for two years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, has been translated into 60 languages and included on several lists among the top books of the 20th century. The Festival Chorus meets on Tuesday evenings in Steadman Theatre from 7 to 9 pm. Participation in the rehearsals and performances is open to all persons at the university and area high school students and community singers. Singers only need to vocalize for placement in the soprano, alto, tenor, or bass sections.
Sectional rehearsals will take place on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:20 pm. Volunteer members are encouraged, but not required, to participate in sectional rehearsals.
Music should be purchased in advance at the Mountie Den Campus Bookstore in Alumni Hall. For more information, call Peggy Dettwiler at 570-662-4721 or write to pdettwil@mansfield.edu