|
April 26, 2002
The emotion hit Carol Kellmann unexpectedly. The music rose in her chest and, as she listened to the Orange County Classic Choral Society, it moved her to tears. It was the choral group's last dress rehearsal and Kellmann's first time in the audience after singing with the group for about 13 years. As she sat in the back row of the Grace Episcopal Church in Middletown, she brought her hand to her chest, then to her mouth. She was speechless.
The 75-member group draws its musicians from Orange and Sullivan counties. Started in 1959, it is made up of veterinarians, teachers, housewives, stockbrokers, retired people and teen-agers with one thing in common: They all love to sing. Kellmann and her husband, Rudy, of Highland Mills, are two of them.
"To be able to come together with other people so passionate about music, sing and celebrate music with them is absolutely glorious," said Carol Kellmann, who had stepped aside from her singing role to give an interview. "It's wonderful."
Music has been a part of the Kellmanns' life for more than 30 years. They met at a relative's house and were married three years later. Rudy said both he and Carol shared a love for music then, and still do.
"Music is what brought us together in 1969," said Rudy, who has been with the group since 1987. "We have professional leadership and give polished performances of the masterpieces."
The subject of this weekend's concert is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Requiem." Conducted by artistic director Janiece Kohler, the performances are held at local churches and accompanied by about two dozen musicians. Drawing from a pool of instrumentalists from the Greater Newburgh Symphony, Hudson Valley Philharmonic and West Point's orchestra, the choral society hires free-lance musicians to play at their concerts.
"We could use a piano accompanist, but that's not how the composer intended it," said Kohler, who has been conducting for 11 years. Kohler works hard to make sure the pieces the group performs are authentic and professional.
"At the very beginning of rehearsal season, half my battle is to get the musicians to leave what they already think they know about a work and let me start fresh," she said. "There's so much good stuff the community needs to hear. I think we do it well. I know we do it well."
Kohler is music director at First Presbyterian Church in Washingtonville and Blooming Grove United Church of Christ. Trained in voice and organ, her musical credits include solo appearances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, the Dearborn Choral Arts Society and the Western Michigan University Choir. She conducted Broadway shows for the New Vic Theater and is guest conductor for area all-state and county music festivals. But Kohler says her biggest accomplishment is knowing that what she does touches someone's life.
"Music means so much to me," she said. "I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have the musical attendance or performance outlets that I have."
It's expensive to travel to New York City and pay for tickets and parking to see a concert, said Kohler. Performances given by the Orange County Classic Choral Society are free and held at locations throughout the county.
"If I can get someone to care about music as much or part of how I care about it, I have accomplished something," she said.
Most of the members share the same belief. Tinie Filipowski of Greenwood Lake said that after she raised her children, she found time to do something for herself. She joined the choral group and has been singing alto for more than 25 years. "Coming to a performance is stimulating and educating," said Filipowski. "Music is an important thing."
Since the choral society's inception, this mixed-voice group of men and women has performed selections by Handel, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. The Rev. Samuel Reinke, pastor of the Blooming Grove Congregational Church, started the group by inviting singers from the community to participate in a performance of Handel's "Messiah." Conducted by Larry Newland from West Point, the group enjoyed the experience so much that they decided to practice and hold another concert.
By the time their next practice came, Newland was unavailable to conduct, so Walter Latzko took over. Latzko conducted a spring and fall concert each year until 1991.
"I got a phone message at work on Aug. 20, 1991," said Kohler. "It was regarding the illness of a dear friend."
Latzko was unable to continue conducting, and Kohler was asked to take over. Kohler, who had been singing with the choral group for years and filling in as an accompanist, said it was scary to begin conducting. Thirteen seasons later, both the conductor and the performers have developed a teacher-student relationship. "Janiece is really particular about music and respectful to the composer," said Carol Kellmann. "That's how she gets the sound she does from singers. The group would not be what it is without Janiece."
Kohler said anyone who can talk and listen can sing. She encourages anyone who enjoys classical music or singing to join.
"People can do more than they think they can," she said.
There are no auditions, and the group rehearses Monday nights from 7:30-9:30 in Blooming Grove. All members pay dues, buy their own music and help raise money to hire the orchestra through fund-raising activities.
Traditionally they perform two concerts a year, but are adding a third summer performance to their 2002 calendar.
For more information or to join, call 845-783-6030 or write: Classic Choral Society, P.O. Box 189, Highland Mills 10930.
Home Page | About Us | History | Alumni | Current Members | Personnel Profiles
|
