News and Notices

By George Wilkens   PLANT CITY, FL — Joseph G. Mendolia, a music education major whose studies were interrupted by a 2008 tornado that virtually destroyed his Tennessee campus, had been back in Plant City a short time when he came up with an idea. Passionate about music, Mendolia, then 20, was seeking a local choral […]

By Emily Hedrick   CHARLOTTE, NC — Sports may grab most students’ attention, but to a vocal segment of Charlotte’s kids and teens, choral singing is where the action is. Even before hit TV shows “Glee” and “The Sing-Off,” choral singing was on solid ground, say music educators. But these shows have solidified choirs’ popularity. “It’s […]

By Brenda Bolinger   Sharon Paul ’78 may never have launched her career in choral conducting if the late William F. Russell, Pomona’s music director from 1951-82, hadn’t been tardy to choir practice. Paul serendipitously took the baton in his stead, unaware of her professor’s arrival. “I think he watched from the back and thought, ‘Oh! […]

By Mike Pryce   WORCESTER, UK — ADRIAN Lucas, who has been conductor of  Worcester Festival Choral Society (WFCS) for 15 years, will pick up the baton for the last time for the society’s spring concert in Worcester Cathedral on Saturday, March 24. Mr Lucas, who has been cathedral organist and director of music since 1997, is stepping […]

JAMESTOWN, NY —  Mary Schmidt of Jamestown has been selected to be the new music director of the Viking Male Chorus and Damkoren. She started in her new position at the chorus’ rehearsal on Feb. 13.   The following members of the Chorus were elected officers on Jan. 9: Mike Yager and Jim Gardner, co-presidents; […]

By Joe Gulick   LUBBOCK, TX — Lubbock High School’s Westerner Chorale left Friday morning for a trip to England that will include a concert at St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the most historic and exclusive venues in the world for choirs The 42 students, under the direction of Robin Dent and Carolyn Hefner, also will […]