Queens College Choral Society seeks new voices

Now playing in Queens: the perennial works of Beethoven and Bach, as interpreted by New Yorkers.
The Queens College Choral Society (QCCS) is seeking new members for its fall concert season, to include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Bach’s Cantata 122, Das neugeborene Kindelein.
“Choral Society is really a vital part of culture in Queens and I’d love to see our membership growing,” said James John, Music Director since 2002, adding that he hopes to see membership expand by their 70th anniversary in 2011. “In the past, we’ve also collaborated with other groups and choral societies, so I’d like to see more collaboration…Building more of an appreciation for choral and orchestral masterpieces in the Queens area.”
QCCS is comprised of women and men from students and faculty at Queens College, as well as members from the larger Queens, Manhattan and Nassau and Suffolk County communities.
“The mission of the Choral Society is really to perform, and make accessible to the Queens community, choral and orchestral masterworks,” said John. Choral singing is “a wonderful way for anyone to participate in performing those works and to get a sense of their powerful emotional impact. It’s a great thing to be a part of the recreation of that.”
Since its founding in 1941, QCCS has declared itself “a singing organization of and for the public, and the students and staff of Queens College,” attracting families and individuals of every age, ethnic background and profession.
Other pieces performed by QCCS include Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat, Haydn’s Creation, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Brahms’s Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Handel’s Messiah.
Auditions will take place on Wednesday August 27, from 7-9 pm, and September 3, 10 and 17, from 6:30-7:30 pm. Rehearsals are held from 7:30 pm to 9:45 pm on Wednesdays at Queens College and will begin September 3, 2008. There will be a New Member Welcome Party on September 17.
To find out more about QCCS or to schedule an audition, contact James John at 718-997-3818 or jmsjhn@aol.com.