"The Flowers that Bloom--and where they're planted, too--In the Spring"

“The Flowers that Bloom—and where they’re planted, too----In the Spring”

We are getting ready here at the Midwest Motet Society for our spring concert cycle and will begin scheduling auditions soon. If you’ve been curious about us, this is the concert cycle to give us a try. Our spring concert will be a little bit different from our usual repertoire.

This spring, we are doing an Operetta Pastiche—solos and choruses from different operettas connected together with a script—with the script written in collaboration between MMS Member-Director Cindy Westerman and her daughter Erin Westerman, a producer for Disney. The title of the concert will be, “From Yum Yum to Buttercup and Everyone in Between: An Operetta Pastiche” and will include music from operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan, Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg, Franz Lehar, Michael Balfe--with a smidge of Allan Sherman. There will be a bit of staging and it is sure to be fun for all of us. Rehearsals for the spring concert cycle begin Tuesday, March 12 at 7 pm in Flossmoor, and our concert will be Sunday, June 2 in the afternoon at Trinity Lutheran Church in Park Forest. There is plenty of time to get involved…and we hope you will!

The ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) considers us a “semi-professional” choir, since many of the MMS have degrees in music or make their living in some way teaching, performing or conducting but are not paid for singing in this group.  We believe in “blooming where you are planted” and have always strived to be a respected member of the musical life in Chicago’s Southland.  Yet, some folks still have not heard about us or think a small group of singers is not as “good” as a big group. They don’t realize a small group has to be BETTER than a large group because each singer has to carry their part for it to really work.  And we’re pretty good!

I had several phone calls and emails from around the country about our concert last fall—including a call from the Conductor Emeritus of the professional chamber choir, “Chanticleer”—asking me what the MMS is.  They couldn’t believe a community choir would sing such diverse and challenging repertoire…..yes, we are a community group and yes, we really DO sing that kind of repertoire. 

The Midwest Motet Society has two concerts a calendar year but you may not know we also have one or two breakout performances during, or after, those concert cycles.  We believe in being a part of the community in which we live so we try to do something—a fund raiser or a community worship service or a program for a local library-- in addition to our regular concerts. Last fall, we sang a portion of our fall concert for a benefit for American Catholic Publishing.  In April, we will participate in the 150^th Anniversary Celebration of the First Lutheran Church of Blue Island along with members of the Northwest Indiana Chapter of AGO.

So, consider auditioning.  We’re a wonderful group of people—we’re talented and we’re nice, too!  Information about the audition and what our member requirements are on the website so you can see what is expected.   www.midwestmotet.org

All auditions are individual so you need not worry about anyone else hearing you.  Our rehearsals start March 12 and are on Tuesday evenings in Flossmoor and continue until our June 2 concert at Trinity Lutheran Church in Park Forest.

If you would like to make an audition appointment either call the MMS phone (708)206-0380 and leave a message or email:     marie@midwestmotet.org  

We look forward to meeting you!