Arts Chorale Preparing for Season Concerts

The Arts Chorale of Greater Lansing is celebrating its 33rd year as a choral ensemble, performing primarily in the greater Lansing area. Dr. Dale Bartlett, Professor Emeritus of the Michigan State University School of Music, has been conductor of the Chorale since 1983.

The membership of the ACGL is comprised of individuals who represent a wide variety of professional backgrounds and includes residents from Lansing, East Lansing, and other surrounding communities. Performing three major concerts each year, the music of the 60+ member Arts Chorale showcases a variety of musical styles and periods, which include the works of Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Dvorak, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Vivaldi, Rutter, Sweelinck, Britten, Copland, Durufle, Effinger, Hassler, Luboff, Mulholland, Parker, Pinkham, Poulenc and Foss. Membership in the Chorale is achieved through audition.

The University Lutheran Church in East Lansing is the home of the holiday concert (December 11, 2012) and spring concert (April 27, 2013), while the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing has proven to be an appropriate setting for the winter concert (February 26, 2013), which often incorporates the organ as an accompaniment instrument. All concerts are at 8:00 PM and are free of charge.

In addition to the usual concert appearances, the Chorale has sung with the Lansing Symphony and the Lansing Concert Band. The group has also performed as the backup choir on two occasions at the Breslin Center with well-known ballad singer Andy Williams, and with Sarah Brightman. In 1998, the Chorale was invited to perform in Holland, Michigan during the city’s March Festival hosted by the Holland Chorale. At this festival, the Arts Chorale was conducted by Alice Parker, of the famous Shaw-Parker duo, and Robert DeCormier, well-known composer and arranger of choral music. The Chorale was also invited to perform at the 2006 Michigan-ACDA Conference in Grand Rapids.

The ACGL has been fortunate to employ Judy Kabodian as pianist/organist/accompanist. Judy’s accompanying skills go hand in hand with her ability to coach singers and to respond to any musical needs of the ensemble.

The Arts Chorale's website is www.artschoralegl.org.