Chorus harmonizes College and community

Author: Lisie Mehlman

The Middlebury College Community Chorus lent spring fever a whole new meaning on Sunday afternoon during its annual Spring Concert. Inside a packed Mead Chapel, the Chorus performed many a soulful Gershwin tune and Brahms gypsy song, each extolling the beauty and newness of springtime.

The Chorus was formed in the fall of 2003 when the Community Chorus and the College Choir combined to become the College Community Chorus, open to all singers without audition. To prepare for their concerts, members attend rehearsals twice weekly. According to Director of Choral Music and LIS Facilities and Policy Advisor Jeff Rehbach, the Chorus itself has its roots in the mid-19th century when the Middlebury Musical Institute was founded to prepare major choral works.

Rehbach, who assumed the role of conductor in the spring of 2000 and directed the concert said, "I was delighted with the performance and the audience response. With nearly two dozen different pieces on the program that represented a variety of musical styles from the past two hundred years - some unaccompanied, others with different types of piano accompaniment from classical to jazz - the chorus was challenged to paint different musical colors throughout the hour-long program." Among these varied musical selections were the beautifully performed Scottish folk song Loch Lomand and the ever expressive Gershwin hit "Summertime."

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Chorus is its ability to bring the College's students, professors and faculty members together with members of the wider Middlebury community. Rehbach noted that he loved "the sense of community as 70 singers from ages 18 to 80 from the College - students, alumni, and staff, and people from many local communities (some from New York State, as well as Burlington and various Addison County towns) all come together to share in making music together."

Middlebury College students revel in the fact that participation in the Chorus provides them with a course credit; however, they cite many other reasons for which their experience with the Chorus has been rewarding. Chorus member and student Alyson Bourne '07.5 explained, "It was so fun knowing that many of the community residents who sang with us had graduated from Middlebury and were still participating at the College. It just shows what a great place Middlebury really is! It was also nice receiving credit for a class that didn't involve sitting in a classroom taking extensive notes. There should be more of that at Middlebury - more varied participation."

Joel Martinez '08 joined the Chorus this year because, having sung throughout high school, he felt the absence of music in his life in college. "The most fun part of singing with the chorus for me is rehearsing. The concert is really great, but I think the group made some of its best music during practice," he said. Dean of Ross Commons Jane Clookey said that she most enjoyed "learning the music, singing twice per week and taking Jeff's direction."

While Martinez maintained that "'Dirait-on' and 'Loch Lomond' went especially well," another highlight of the concert was its featuring of Middlebury's famed diva and Twilight Artist in Resident Francois Clemmons. According to Rehbach said, "Clemmons joined us to tell us about Porgy and Bess and to join with us in singing excerpts from that opera. His experience in having sung the opera professionally, his insights into the style of the music and his joyful presence, along with that of jazz musician and teacher Dick Forman at the piano, provided wonderful vitality and excitement to our final rehearsals and performance!"

Clemmons, it seems, had nearly forgotten about his experience with Porgy and Bess. "I was reminded by some of the audience that I had recorded Porgy & Bess in 1976 which was 30 years ago this year! That's a long time to be singing anything! At the time I only sang the tenor role of "Sportin' Life." Now I sing the music of Porgy, Crown, Jake, Bess, Serena and Clara as well. It's quite a change and very exciting," he said. He described his love of the Chorus, saying, "I like that I know so many members of the chorus. It's like making great music with friends."

This sentiment is wholly reciprocated by the Chorus members who seem to have adored working with Clemmons - Clookey said that she works with him every chance she gets, and as Martinez commented, that "Francois is an incredible singer. His range and power are simply mind boggling. I think that he really made the Porgy and Bess pieces come alive. Working with him was also very fun. He came to rehearsal a few times and just showed us how to get the swing and rhythm which the Porgy pieces really need. At the same time he is very laid back; a real pleasure to work with in general."

Bourne, summarizing her experience in the Chorus, said, "Participating in Community Chorus was great in many ways. Although we rehearsed twice a week for 3 to 4 hours, it was a great way to take a break from my work and to do something different."

This impression was echoed by those filling the benches in Mead Chapel on Sunday. Sarah Shaikh '07.5, an audience member, remarked, "The concert was so fun because it was such a change of pace. It was fun to be there supporting friends and the people in the community. Mostly, though, it was great to just sit back and listen to quality music."