Lake Forest Professor Extends Creativity To Chicago Choral Artists

By Chelsea Stevenson

LAKE FOREST, IL — When Emilie Amrein began at Lake Forest
College four years ago, the school had just one choir of 20
students.

Today, the music professor’s work has allowed the Lake Forest
College music department to expand to nearly four choirs that
include approximately 80 students.

Her work has not gone unnoticed. Amrein has expanded her musical
talents to Chicago, where she has been appointed artistic director
for Chicago Choral Artists.

Chicago Choral Artists is a choral group that began 35 years
ago. According to Amrein, it is rare to see choirs reach this level
of longevity. The choir is comprised of 32 singers of all ages from
Chicago and its suburbs.

“I am looking forward to taking the group out of their comfort
zone and building on beautiful music-making. This is something that
both the choir and its audiences can look forward to,” Amrein
said.

Amrein will lead the choir in performing two concerts — a
holiday concert and an Earth Day themed spring concert — for the
2011-2012 season. The usual season consists of three concerts.
However, Amrein has so many ideas for the second concert that the
organization will be busy enough, according to Chicago Choral
Artists Board President Elaine Pierce.

“Emilie is just so creative,” said Pierce. “We are blown away by
her ideas and she just keeps pouring out more.”