Lakeland Community Choir Sets First Spring Concert
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Though the Lakeland Community Choir took several years off, it’s back and ready to perform its first spring concert March 22. The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 210 S. High St., Warsaw. Like the Lakeland Youth Chorale, the Lakeland Community Choir falls under the umbrella of the Classic Arts Program, a non-profit organization. According to Classic Arts Program President Judie Meulink, LCC was started in the 1980s by Dick Anderson. The group then got connected with Grace College until it closed its art department, and the choir was no more. Yet, the spirit of the choir did not go away. People approached Meulink and wanted to get the group going again. “We restarted it this year,” she said. Currently, there are about 22-24 members, she said, but there is no limit to its size. Some of the members have sung with the choir since it started in 1984. New members, from high school and older, are always welcome. There is no audition. Just call Meulink at 574-551-2232 and then come to rehearsals. All areas of Kosciusko County are represented in the organization. Sopranos, altos, tenors and bass singers are all part of the group. “I think this is a good outlet for people at the end of a long day,” Meulink said. “It’s energizing for people. They feel like part of a team.” The choir meets for two hours once a week for 10 weeks on Thursdays, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the church. Each season then concludes with a community concert. Each concert has a different theme. There’s a spring choir season and one in the fall. LCC did a Christmas concert in the fall, and the concert March 22 will feature the LYC. As for song selection, Meulink said, “We do everything.” “Musical Awakening” is the title of the concert March 22. It features traditional choir music, but it’s not sacred music, it’s secular. The pieces are light, like the song “What Do We Do With A Drunken Sailor?” sung by the men. Choir director is Dr. Ardis Farber. She and Meulink both were professors at Grace College and they met there. LCC and LYC can be booked for other events through Meulink. “In 2014 we will have our 30-year anniversary. I think that’s an amazing piece of information for this town,” Meulink stated. For more information about the adult or children’s choirs, or the Classic Arts Program, visit the program’s Facebook page.
