By Kathy L. Collins
The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, under the direction of Dr. James K. Bass, has been invited to perform with the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra on Thursday, March 14, Friday, March 15 and Saturday, Match 16 a the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. The Chorale will be there for three performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay will join forces with the Master Choral of South Florida with a total of 200 singers in the chorus. At the Friday and Saturday performances, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay will perform an a capella prelude concert sponsored by Moffitt Cancer Center.
The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay is an auditioned, highly select 150 voice volunteer chorus composed of singers from all over the Tampa Bay including 15 singers from the greater Brandon area. This includes Brian Hathaway of Valrico. Hathaway is a Continuous Improvement Coordinator with the Mosaic Company. He has been a member of the Master Chorale since August 2007.
Hathaway said, “Being a member of the Master Chorale allows me to pursue my passion for making great music with talented and skilled musicians.” Hathaway added, “To sing with the Cleveland Orchestra is a special honor to me personally and as a member of the Master Chorale. Each time I think of what we are doing, all I can say is…wow.”
The Master Chorale has been preparing for these performances since late last fall and recently rehearsed with the Cleveland Orchestra. “We are proud to represent the Tampa Bay community in this wonderful collaboration of great music,” said Robert Hicks, Chairman of The Master Chorale Board of Trustees.
If you cannot get to Miami, plan on attending the Master Chorale’s April concert with the Florida Orchestra as they perform Mozart’s Requiem. They will perform on Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m. at The Straz Center in Tampa; on Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m. at the Mahaffey Theatre in St. Petersburg; and on Sunday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.
For more information and to get tickets to the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay’s concerts, please visit www.masterchorale.com.
