Waukesha Choral Union to present free concert of Handel’s “Messiah”

Waukesha Choral Union will present a free concert of Handel’s “Messiah” on March 27, 2011 at 3:00pm in Shattuck Auditorium. Ernest Brusubardis, III, conducts choir including volunteer community singers, orchestra, and soloists.
By: Jim LaBelle
 
March 10, 2011 - PRLog -- Waukesha, Wis. – The Waukesha Choral Union will present George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” as a free gift to the community on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in Shattuck Auditorium on the Carroll University campus.  Artistic director Ernest “Ernie” Brusubardis, III will conduct this performance comprised of choir, orchestra, and soloists.  The choir is made up of Waukesha Choral Union members and volunteer community singers. Soloists for the Waukesha Choral Union production are: Erika Schwane, Soprano; Jillian Bruss, Alto; Joseph Graziano, Tenor; and James Barany, Bass.

Waukesha Choral Union has been performing Handel’s “Messiah” or Haydn’s “Creation” as a free concert annually for over three decades.  This longstanding tradition is funded by area businesses, foundations, and benefactors as well as through generous donations from patrons.  A silent auction of donated merchandise and services will also be held in conjunction with the concert.  Brusubardis is “Delighted that all facets of the greater Waukesha community come together to create, perform, experience, and enjoy.”  

Handel’s “Messiah” is one of the most popular works in the Western choral literature. The libretto by Charles Jennens is drawn entirely from the King James and Great Bibles, and interprets the Christian doctrine of the Messiah. Composed in London during the summer of 1741 and premiered in Dublin, Ireland on 13 April 1742, it was repeatedly revised by Handel, reaching its most familiar version in the performance to benefit the Foundling Hospital in 1754. The work is divided into three parts which address specific events in the life of Christ. Part One is primarily concerned with the Advent and Christmas stories. Part Two chronicles Christ's passion, resurrection, ascension, and the proclamation to the world of the Christian message. Part Three is based primarily upon the events chronicled in the Book of Revelation.

Community singers interested in joining the performance must attend three rehearsals:
• Sunday, March 20, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University.
• Tuesday, March 22, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church.
• Saturday, March 26, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University.
Music will be provided.  Call (262) 547-3784 for more information. Shattuck Auditorium is located at 100 North E. Ave., Waukesha. Christ the Servant Lutheran Church is located at 2016 Center Road, Waukesha, Wis.

Two concerts remain in the Waukesha Choral Union’s 2010 – 2011 “Putting Together a Community of Singers” season:
• Saturday, April 30, 2011, “All-Beethoven Concert.”
• WCU will also be part of the collaborative chorus for a performance on Saturday, May 21, 2011, of Kirke Mechem’s “Songs of the Slave” and Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “Dona nobis pacem” with the Bel Canto Chorus and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, (Edo DeWaart music director,) under the direction of Richard Hynson.
For more information, visit http://www.ChoralUnion.org.

Erika Schwane, Soprano, has been a featured soloist in Shubert’s Mass in G with Waukesha Choral Union as well as Mozart’s Mass in B-Flat and Bach Cantata 196 with Carroll University.  She has musical theater experience with Waukesha Civic Theater, Mukwonago Village Players, and Lake Country Players. She is also an active member of the Jubilate Chorale in Waukesha, Wis.  Erika holds a Bachelors degree in Music Business from Carroll University, where she studied music and voice with Chelsea Cloeter.

Jillian Bruss, Alto, has performed both here and abroad in opera, oratorio and recitals.  She has performed with the Florentine Opera in both main stage and outreach programs, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Dallas Opera, Milwaukee Choral Artists, Milwaukee Youth Symphony, Waukesha Choral Society, MasterSingers, Bel Canto Chorus, Milwaukee Choristers and Lutheran Acapella Choir.  In 2006, Jillian took a recital concert of American composed and arranged songs to the countries of her grandfathers, Denmark and Norway. She is the General Manager of the Milwaukee Opera Theatre, conductor of the women’s ensemble Women of Note and teaches private voice in her home studio in Elm Grove, Pius XI High School and UW-Parkside.  Jillian holds a Masters degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Illinois – Champaign Urbana, and a Bachelors degree in Music Education from UW-Stevens Point.

Joseph Graziano, Tenor, has performed oratorio work in the Milwaukee area, including the tenor soloist for Handel’s Messiah, Dave Brubeck’s “To Hope,” and the Bach Magnificat.  Joseph has also been a featured soloist throughout the Midwest with such companies as the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Festival of Arts Antioch, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Pine Mountain Music Festival, Madison Repertory Theatre, and the Little Rock Symphony. In addition, Joseph has performed with the Florentine Opera Company for several seasons, singing such roles in their Outreach Programs as Carmen’s “Don Jose,” La Traviata’s “Alfredo,” and Of Mice and Men’s “Lenny.” Joseph has also been featured in the Florentine’s Mainstage productions of La Boheme, Il Trovatore, Pagliacci, and Abduction from the Seraglio.

James Barany, Bass, has performed comprimario and supporting roles with the Florentine Opera, including the “Herald” in Rigoletto, “Yakuside” in Madama Butterfly and “Man #1” in Elmer Gantry. James has also performed with the Florentine Opera Chorus since 2005 as a Bass-Baritone in the productions of Aida, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Macbeth, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Madama Butterfly ,The Magic Flute, Semele, Tosca, Elmer Gantry, Rigoletto, Rio De Sangre and L' italiana in Algeri. James has also performed for Waukesha audiences as “Sancho” in The Man from LaMancha at the Waukesha Civic Theatre.

As the premiere vocal group in the area, the Waukesha Choral Union has been musically active in the community for over 50 years. Originally a combination of the Carroll College student chorus and community singers known as the Waukesha Choral Society in 1949, the group became the Town and Gown in 1961 and the Waukesha Choral Union in 1974, taking its present form as an auditioned choir in 1978.

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The Waukesha Choral Union, an auditioned community choir, continues a long tradition of collaborating with other musicians and groups, putting together pieces of the very colorful and diverse arts community in which we live for over 50 years.
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Source:Jim LaBelle
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