By Kathy Collins
The Bay Area Chorale, which started in June 2015, is Tampa’s newest community chorale group. The Bay Area Chorale is unique in that it accepts both experienced and amateur singers.
According to Director Joe Mendolia, “The Bay Area Chorale provides an opportunity for singers to make friends and beautiful music at the same time. Our motto is ‘Let’s make music together.’ We believe that anyone who wants to sing should be able to do so regardless of experience levels.”
All singers must be 15 years or older to join. Those who wish to get more information, register and pick up music, can do so on Monday, June 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 7-8:30 p.m. at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church located at 502 Druid Hills Rd. in Temple Terrace. The total cost to participate in Bay Area Chorale is $75 ($25 is due at registration).
The Bay Area Chorale rehearses once per month. Those who join not only get to sing and make friends, but they get to participate in Disney’s Candlelight Processional in Orlando and in two other concerts- an Annual Christmas Concert and on Broadway. Dates and times are not yet determined.
According to Randy Magruder, Bass Section Leader for the Bay Area Chorale, “The group was started for several reasons. First, there are very few non-church affiliated choruses in this area that welcome adults. Second, we do not hold auditions. We prefer to welcome everyone who has the desire to sing. Finally, we sang at Disney World in 2015, and we hope to sing again this year.”
There are currently 30 singers in the group, but there is space for up to 125 singers. Magruder added, “The Bay Area Chorale was started to give amateur music enthusiasts a place to sing that is educational, exciting and rewarding. We want everyone who enjoys singing to have a place to do this regardless of their experience or skill. We do teach people how to harmonize and some basic music reading skills. We use professional rehearsal tracks to help people learn their parts on their own, and then we work with them in small groups.”
For more information on Bay Area Chorale, visit www.bayareachorale.org or call 551-2849.
