Boys Only! Bash
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Solomon Michalak
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Boys from all over the county joined with the young men of Anima for a special event held at First Presbyterian Church in Glen Ellyn. Jeff Haeger, educator and jazz pianist, led the boys in learning a few songs and having a great time. The day culminated with the group "opening" for the American Boychoir, and then joining them in singing "Goin' Up a Yonder", which was originally commissioned for Anima (then the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus). Our own Bill Buhr, who was involved in the original commission, was invited to accompany the combined chorus for this wonderful piece. What a great day!
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Alumni News-Elena Korpalski
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Greetings from St. Louis!
It has been about 6 years since leaving the Touring Chorus of the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus (now Anima), yet when I popped into a rehearsal this September, I found much that was familiar. The name is different and the park district building has gotten a face lift, but rehearsal still starts on time, the choristers still smile and laugh and enjoy each other's company, the moms (and dads) still help the staff and the sound is still very moving. Visiting was like stepping into a time machine - back to a very cherished period of my life.
After leaving the chorus as a graduating high school senior in 2002, I attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. I majored in general music education, receiving my BME in 2007. AT UIUC, I participated in Chamber Singers, Oratorio Society, Concert Choir as well as St. John's Catholic Chapel Church Choir. As a cast member in a college production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," I found an experience and musical community similar to the one I had left behind in Glen Ellyn.
I am presently working for Bank of America in the St. Louis area and am thrilled to be singing with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus for the 08-09 season. I can't help but smile and think of Ms. Ellsworth every time our director instructs the ensemble to "sit up, legs uncrossed!": "watch me, please!" or asks someone in the soprano section to stop talking. My experiences with the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus have meant more to me than I will ever be able to express. Much of who I am today I attribute to those Tuesday and Thursday nights with friends and the magic of music.
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Central DuPage Hospital Groundbreaking
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Heidi Nelson
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Anima was proud to perform for the CDH groundbreaking ceremony for their new Proton Therapy center. This revolutionary new cancer treatment is only available in five cities in the United States, and there are no facilities currently operating in the midwest. Heidi Nelson, Touring Chorister, was especially pleased to be able to sing for this event, as her grandfather traveled to Florida this past January to receive this life-saving treatment. He is now healthy and had virtually no side effects from the treatment. To learn more click here.
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Scary Creatures & Lovely Maidens Invade Rehearsal!
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Anna Markey
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Treble and Concert choristers had a frighteningly good time at the annual Halloween party. There were beautiful princesses, scary witches and a few bugs! All species ate Barone's pizza, and drank orange and black soda and then had a rousing game of bingo. See more pictures on the website.
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Emily Notes
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This has been a week of reconnecting. One of our alums sent an update on her semester abroad in Germany. Another wrote from De Paul University with fond reminiscences of singing with other alumni for Holst's The Planets at Millennium Park in August. Yet another stopped by rehearsal while on fall break to say hello and listen to the music. Autumn is a time for nostalgia, it seems, as nature transitions from the green of summer to the snows of winter. What a pleasure it is to hear from former choristers, in the midst of their own transitions away from home. Certainly, time never stands still at Anima. Next week brings to a close the last in a series of symphonic collaborations since August - this time with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for performances of Hector Berlioz' Damnation of Faust. A group of 53 choristers, 4th - 9th graders, are well rehearsed and ready to sing at Symphony Center October 30th and November 1st, at 8 pm. They will be placed in several groupings, both on the stage and in the terrace above - portraying young angels who help welcome Marguerite into Heaven for the final scene. (Berlioz himself left instructions that they be placed throughout the performance space for dramatic, visual effect.) Maestro Charles Dutoit will be conducting this 19th century French masterpiece, which took the composer over 20 years to complete. Berlioz' musical depiction of the Faust legend, in which Faust sells his soul to the devil in order to save the woman he loves, is filled to overflowing with music of great drama, soaring melody, and breathtaking beauty.
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Choristers Paint Glen Ellyn Shop Windows
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About a dozen choristers participated in the annual tradition of decorating Glen Ellyn shop windows for Halloween. Duties were split between design concept, outlining the design and the actual painting. The result: a group of scary creatures caroling "Anima"! Thank you to all of the artists who took up this challenge. See more pictures on our website.
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Save the Date for "Hearts on Fire"
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The annual holiday concert will be held at Wentz Hall in Naperville on December 20th at 4pm and December 21st at 3pm. Call now to reserve your seat!
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For more information about Anima call 630-858-2471 or visit our website at www.animasingers.org.
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