By CATHERINE DONNELLY
Special to the PRESS
On the heels of a highly successful performance last Sunday in Harlingen, the Chorus of the Rio Grande Valley, featuring some of the best vocal talent the Valley has to offer, will perform its Masterworks concert at The Chapel by the Sea on South Padre Island on Saturday, April 20 starting at 6 p.m.
Joining the Chorus is Alium Spiritum and the Stringphonics, performing music from masters such as Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Faure, Haydn, Mozart and contemporaries such as Whittaker and Hagenberg. The Chorus’ performance is entitled, “The Heavens are Telling” featuring Nocturne.
As per its background, the Chorus has auditions each August and stages four performances throughout the year, according to Chorus of the Rio Grande Valley Director, Joel Cruz. In the fall, the Chorus performs a pop concert and there is a holiday concert in the winter, he said. In the spring, the Chorus presents the Masters, and in the summer, the Chorus performs, “Celebrate,” inspired by the nation’s Independence Day.
Chorus members are comprised of adults 18-years-old and older, and the performers are from all walks of life, said Cruz, himself a Los Fresnos CISD music director. Cruz described his singers as a dedicated group of talented artists who travel across the Valley to rehearse and perform, adding that they are representative of the entire RGV.
“I’m a native of Harlingen, but was teaching in Houston when the pandemic hit,” said Cruz. “And that’s when I moved back.”
Cruz described how he was well into his choral career when he realized that there was a void that needed to be filled, especially due COVID-related isolation. Referencing the fact that RGV was once home to a similar group, Cruz explained that he still knew some choral members from that previous rendition, and he felt the need for gathering, nurturing and bringing back that sense of community in as safe a manner as possible.
“So 11 years after the other (original) group’s demise, I cautiously announced a rehearsal in 2021 to prepare for a holiday concert,” said Cruz. “The group got together and made plans on how to execute this under our new normal. Their first concert was at St. Anthony’s (in Harlingen).”
Cruz explained that they talked about the pros and cons of rehearsing and performing with or without masks. They ultimately decided to space people out appropriately to have as much distance between themselves as possible.
Last season was the group’s first full year of concerts, and the Chorus plans on performing the four seasonal performances going forward. Fans should look for announcements starting in July regarding the annual rehearsals to join the group.
The Chorus of the Rio Grande Valley performed last Sunday, April 14, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Harlingen. A reprisal of this concert is scheduled for Saturday, April 20 at 6 p.m. at The Chapel by the Sea on South Padre Island, 3425 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island. For more information, call (956) 464-7633.
Interested parties can also purchase tickets from Chorus members or by emailing the group at chorusrgv@gmail.com.
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