For Immediate Release
January 18, 2019
WICKER PARK CHORAL SINGERS FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MARK TOMASINO STEPPING DOWN
CHICAGO – As Wicker Park Choral Singers continues its 11th season, founder and Artistic Director Mark Tomasino has announced he will step down from his role as Artistic Director at the end of their season in June 2019. “It has been my absolute honor and privilege to serve as Artistic Director of WPCS for the past ten years,” says Tomasino. “We started this journey in 2008 with little more than a love and passion for choral music. The ensemble has since grown into a vibrant community of singers that plays an integral role in the choral music scene of Chicago. While it is time for me to step down so that I can spend more time with family and pursue other opportunities, I have never been more excited for the future of the organization. I look forward to continuing to support WPCS on its journey while serving on the Board of Directors in an advisory role.”
Throughout the history of the organization, Tomasino has always held high artistic standards, making the musical output of WPCS akin to that of a professional ensemble. The auditioned all-volunteer choir attracts more than 100+ audition applicants a year which is a testament to the need it fills within the Chicago singing community. A champion of living composers, Tomasino also ensured the choir’s commitment to help build the choral cannon and commission composers from Chicago and around the country. Most importantly was his commitment to building community through choral music which is apparent through the choir’s accessible ticket pricing, free performances around the city, community organization partnerships, and creating group singing experiences whenever possible.
“The WPCS Board, singers, and alumni could not be more grateful for Mark’s tireless work to build community through choral music in Chicago and beyond,” shares WPCS Board President John Williams. “His vision, leadership, artistry and commitment have established WPCS as an innovative, creative institution of the highest caliber. We will dearly miss Mark’s energy and presence week-to-week, but are excited to have him move into a new role on the Board. We look forward to working together with Mark to identify a new Artistic Director who will build on the very strong foundation he established.”
The Board of Directors will conduct a public search to replace Tomasino.
ABOUT Wicker Park Choral Singers
Wicker Park Choral Singers is an all-volunteer choir with a mission to build community through choral music. WPCS has performed in spaces throughout Chicago including the Chicago Cultural Center, Fourth Presbyterian Church on the Magnificent Mile, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Garfield Park Conservatory and outdoors in venues like Millennium Park, The 606 Trail, Wicker Park, and the Humboldt Park Boathouse. The group has even gone over the airwaves reaching millions of households through TV, radio, and internet on Chicago Fox Morning News, WFMT 98.7, WGN Holiday specials, and even the Oprah show. WPCS is always striving to expand the choral art form and explore sounds that reflect what we are living today by commissioning up-andcoming composers, performing nine world premieres of new choral works. The group is also dedicated to building community with other Chicago choirs and has begun a new concert series, ChicagoSings Showcase, that features various choirs from around the city with the goal of expanding audiences and sharing resources to make the choral community stronger. Wicker Park Choral Singers is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.
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