2011-2012

Fall 2011

Our gifted director, Jennifer Whiting will conducted this beautiful Requiem Mass. Dr. William Crosbie accompanied the 43-voice chorus on the Berghaus pipe organ. Soloists were Dr. Orna Arania, soprano, and Julian Rojas, baritone.

Jennifer Whiting provided a free, pre-concert lecture, "Text Painting in Fauré's Requiem."

The chorus performed additional pieces by Mendelssohn, Haydn, and Rutter.
Dr. Crosbie presented Sowerby's Prelude on Song 46
Dr. Arania will sing Mozart's Laudamus te (allegro aperto), from the Great Mass in C Minor.

Spring Concert 2012

OPERA CHORUSES

Have you ever sat in the audience of one of the great lyric operas and wished that you could cherry-pick your favorite choruses to hear again? If this speaks to you or if you would like simply to expand your familiarity with famous opera choruses, the DeKalb Festival Chorus brings you the perfect opportunity this spring.On May 6, DFC will perform nine opera choruses by composers from Bizet to Wagner and arranged by contemporary British composer and conductor John Rutter.

This season we are also delighted to welcome our new music director Amy Gatschenberger, who will conduct the 40-member chorus and its soloists.Ms Gatschenberger did her undergraduate work at Moody Bible Institute and, in 2010, had the rare privilege of conducting the Moody Chorale as they toured in the U.S. and throughout the United Kingdom.She is presently pursuing her Master’s degree in choral conducting at Northern Illinois University, where she has conducted the University Chorus as part of her studies.She plans to graduate in May.The concert will also be accompanied by Dr. William Koehler, Presidential Teaching Professor in the NIU School of Music and pianist for DeKalb's First United Methodist Church.