Bel Canto Chorus Announces New Executive Director

MILWAUKEE - Sept. 6, 2013 - PRLog -- Milwaukee, WI – The Board of Directors of Bel Canto Chorus is pleased to announce that Nina M. Jones has been named Executive Director. Ms. Jones will lead the organization in its mission to enrich the lives of its audiences and members through the presentation of fine choral music. Jones is a seasoned arts executive who has provided leadership for nonprofit organizations for more than twelve years, with extensive experience in the area of development.

Board Chairman Martin J. Tierney said, "Nina Jones is a wonderful addition to the Bel Canto team. Her combination of experience and enthusiasm will take us to new heights."

Jones adds, “I am proud to be working for the oldest continuous performing arts group in Milwaukee and am thrilled to bring all of my legal, managerial and fund development experience to Bel Canto Chorus.”

Bel Canto Chorus Music Director Richard Hynson said, “Nina Jones brings so much to Bel Canto. Her extensive skill set, her experience in the Milwaukee cultural scene, and her understanding of and personal involvement in the arts make her a dynamic leader and forceful advocate for Bel Canto. I look forward to working with her to further Bel Canto’s mission in our community, including our Boy Choirs and Senior Singers programs.”

Jones was the Executive Director of Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund where she created the Eisenberg Dinner which awards the Howard B. Eisenberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in Pro Bono Legal Service. She was the Development Director for The Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens and was Institutional Giving Manager at Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

Jones is a graduate of Marquette Law School and University (JD, MA in Philosophy), University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (MFA Theater Performance and Management) and Mundelein College in Chicago (BA in Philosophy).  She lives with her best friend of 28-plus years and their three cats. Jones is an avid gardener and an official Master Gardener Volunteer with SEWMG.

Bel Canto Chorus’ 2013 – 2014 season of concerts, “Works with Friends,” will present four collaborative concerts with other Milwaukee ensembles.

October 26, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (Edo de Waart, Music Director), will be the first partner of the season. Inspired by Bel Canto’s recent tour to France, this program features Maurice Duruflé’s mystical “Requiem” and Francis Poulenc’s jubilant, jazzy “Gloria.”

The “Christmas in the Basilica” concerts, December 14 and 15, feature Stained Glass Brass and Bel Canto Boy Choirs for this annual celebration of the music of the Christmas season. The concert also includes an audience sing-along.

March 9, the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra joins Bel Canto Chorus to perform two twentieth-century works that commemorate the passion story. James MacMillan’s “Seven Last Words from the Cross” offers a dramatic, brutal revelation of the last hours of Jesus. Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna” continues the narrative after the resurrection with hopeful, healing words of redemption.

May 21, the Milwaukee Children’s Choir combines forces with Bel Canto Chorus and Boy Choirs for Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” This bawdy Milwaukee favorite will feature Orff’s arrangement for two pianos and percussion, allowing the chorus and the soloists to come to the forefront.

“The whimsical title of our season, ‘Works with Friends,’ describes the thread of collaboration that runs throughout,” said Hynson. “Each concert will feature an exciting performance with another Milwaukee ensemble. Collaborations in recent years have succeeded so well that I decided to create a full season of them. The resulting energy generated by the combined forces makes for extraordinary concert experiences that you won’t want to miss!”

About Bel Canto Chorus
Founded in 1931, Bel Canto Chorus enriches the lives of its audiences and members through the presentation of fine choral music.  The group has been led for more than 25 years by Richard Hynson, considered one of the nation's finest choral and orchestral conductors (American Prize Winner 2012). Bel Canto Chorus ranks in the top ten percent of choral organizations in the country in terms of budget, longevity, and repertoire. Educational outreach includes Bel Canto Senior Singers and Bel Canto Boy Choirs. Rehearsals are held at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. Characterized by a heartfelt belief in the value of Bel Canto Chorus, and supported by its 100 devoted singers, audiences, talented artistic and administrative staff, and dedicated board members, the group's passion for sharing the thrill of live, choral music has remained steadfast throughout its long, proud history.

Contact information/interviews
For additional information, promotional photos, or interview requests, contact the Bel Canto office at (414) 481-8801.