News and Notices

By Susan Dibble   AURORA, IL — Now that classes are out for the summer at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, choral director Mark Myers is doing what he loves best — teaching kids to sing together.  He does it in show choir camps instead of school and works with kids from all over, not […]

By Richard Steele and Lynette Kalsnes   CHICAGO — A special kind of choir that sings to hospice patients is gaining strength across the U.S. They’re all-female groups called threshold choirs because they perform for people on the threshold between life and death.  The singers say the music doesn’t just help the patients – it helps […]

By Lee Elliot   DOVER, OH — Richard Jones of Strasburg recently received the James V. Salzwedel Award For Excellence In Church Music. During a ceremony in Dover First Moravian Church, Phyllis Ronald, representing the Moravian Music Foundation, presented him with the prestigious award, named for the Rev. James Salzwedel, who served the Moravian Church as […]

By Cliff Peale   CINCINNATI — Confronting an illness they haven’t seen before is the biggest fear for local health officials heading into the World Choir Games. As 15,000 participants from 64 countries and 22 states prepare to descend on Greater Cincinnati for the event that runs July 4-14, health officials are preparing a set of […]

By Ryan Trares   FRANKLIN, IN — Song by song, the Voices of Franklin relived the varying styles and selection of Americana music.  Members swung through mournful folk songs such as “Danny Boy” and inspiring gospel tunes such as “Amazing Grace.” They moved into the frantic twang of “Rocky Top” and George Gershwin’s jazzy “Summertime.”  For […]

BARRIE, ON — The King Edward Choir has announced that Floydd Ricketts will be joining the emsemble as its new artistic director and conductor.   Ricketts sings tenor with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale and last year joined the choir to sing tenor and function as associate conductor.    With the retirement of Barbara McCann, the choir’s […]