Many performers dream of taking the stage at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York. Some singers from South Holland Master Chorale will do just that in June.
“There’s certainly a level of artistry and accomplishment needed to get invited to be on that stage,” said Philip J. Bauman, music director of South Holland Master Chorale. “That space is hallowed walls and hallowed halls of having great performers.”
The group’s performance of Christopher Tin’s “Hope Is the Thing With Features” during its fall 2023 program prompted Distinguished Concerts International New York to invite the singers to be part of a spring 2024 event, which will feature the Grammy-winning composer conducting his music.
“On such short notice we couldn’t rearrange our schedules to make that work,” said Bauman, a former longtime Bolingbrook resident who lives in South Bend, Indiana.
The timing did work when Distinguished Concerts International New York was preparing its current season, which includes “Requiem” by Gabriel Fauré on June 8 at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium in New York City. The chorale successfully auditioned for a chorus spot.
“They have one of the strongest reputations for presenting quality performances and providing quality artists and orchestras to work with,” Bauman said. “The level and quality of guest artists is very high. It’s great to be amongst those types of people.”
Singers and musicians gathering for the East Coast performance are slated to participate in two half-day rehearsals and a dress rehearsal with conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée, artistic director of Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
“I certainly love this program because it’s something we had done in spring 2023. It would be great to revisit that piece in this unique setting,” said Bauman, who has signed a contract extension to lead South Holland Master Chorale through the 2027-28 season.
South Holland Master Chorale previously performed the Fauré piece during The Music of Living program at Saint Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana, and St. John the Evangelist in St. John, Indiana, to close the 2022-23 season.
“The Fauré ‘Requiem’ is certainly a very significant work in the French repertoire,” Bauman said. “It takes a very lyrical and beautiful and somewhat subdued approach that gives it a very unique flavor.”
A group of 26 singers from South Holland Master Chorale will be part of an international chorus, which includes performers from several U.S. states, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland.
“There are several choirs that are joining us for this event so it’s a great opportunity to be amongst others from around the world and to hear their love of singing,” said Bauman, who also has been production manager of South Bend Symphony Orchestra in Indiana since 2022.
Other performers include conductor Martín Palmeri, whose “Misa a Buenos Aires” (Misatango) will be featured; baritone Edmund Milly; The Community Concert Choir of Baltimore conducted by Marco K. Merrick; and Warwick Valley High School Chamber Orchestra and Warwick Valley High School Combined Symphony & Chamber Orchestras conducted by E’lissa Jones Maynard.
South Holland Master Chorale, which has about 80 members from 40 communities in the south suburbs and Northwest Indiana, will be represented at Carnegie Hall by singers including residents of Homewood, Park Forest, South Holland and Valparaiso, Indiana.
“We’re very appreciative of the financial support that the village of South Holland is giving us. They also helped us with some funds to go to New York,” Bauman said.
The smaller group traveling to New York plans to begin preparing in mid-May with rehearsals taking place two or three times a week to revisit and refine the “Requiem” performance.
“We’ll really be able to work on details and more specific things that might happen as part of the concert and spend a little bit on each this time. We can really focus very distinctly on this work,” Bauman said.
The full South Holland Master Chorale has rehearsed weekly at Calvary United Protestant Church in Park Forest for its next free concert, which features Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem” to close the 2024-25 season, which is themed Let All the World in Every Corner Sing.
“What’s nice about this chorus is it’s strongly supported by the village of South Holland but also the communities in which we perform so they do tend to follow us and be a loyal audience. We’re very proud of that and very appreciative of that,” Bauman said.
Accompanied by organist Mark Sudeith and chamber orchestra, the chorale will present Duruflé Requiem | A Concert for All Souls at 4 p.m. May 18 at Thorn Creek Reformed Church, 1875 E. 170th St., South Holland, and 4 p.m. June 1 at St. John the Evangelist, 10701 Olcott Ave., St. John.
“They’re going to hear a refinement of sound which is certainly French in nature but Duruflé bases almost the entire work on Gregorian chant so it sounds very old but new,” said Bauman, who also has been music director/conductor of Michigan City Messiah in Indiana since 2015.
Described as resonating with forgiveness, consolation and eternal light, the program also includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Misericordias Domini” (the goodness of the Lord), Rob Dietz’s “Echo” and “Cantique de Jean Racine,” which Fauré composed at the age of 19.
South Holland Master Chorale’s Carnegie Hall debut will include Bauman singing with his wife of 17 years, Lee Bauman, who joined the non-auditioned vocal ensemble when he became music director in 2022.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with this choir because of the sincerity and goodness in people’s hearts,” Bauman said. “They will work as hard as you ask them to work and they love what they’re doing. The love of singing comes through incredibly well.”
The conductor praised the welcoming nature and professional sound of the South Holland Master Chorale.
“Singers are singing with such emotion and so much conviction that the audience will be moved,” Philip J. Bauman said. “We pride ourselves on having transformative events. The audience feels touched by the time it’s all over with and they’re glad they were there.”
Information about South Holland Master Chorale is at 708-210-2913 or southhollandmasterchorale.org.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
