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Contact Information:
Call (651) 690-6690
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The St. Catherine Choral Society
The St. Catherine Choral Society is a community masterworks chorus sponsored by the College of St. Catherine comprising the voices of students, faculty, staff, and community adults.
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FALL 2008 REPERTOIRE
J.S. Bach: Magnificat
John Rutter: Magnificat
Director Dr. Patricia C. Connors founded the choir in 1993 with these goals in mind:
- to provide an opportunity for the students of this women’s college to sing in a mixed voice choir.
- to provide an opportunity for adult singers, as well as the students, to participate in high quality performances of choral masterworks.
The choir rehearses once per week during each academic semester. Performing with professional instrumentalists and soloists, the choir gives two concerts per year, in the fall and the spring.
Choir members come from near and far - as near as Bayard Avenue and as far as Taylor's Falls. Their repertoire has included such works as the Requiems of Brahms and Mozart, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Masses by Haydn and Mozart, the Bach Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Copland’s American Folksongs, a Richard Rodgers medley, and new works by local composer Albert Biales.
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Director
Patricia Cahalan Connors is the Director of Choral Activities and Chair of the Music Department at the College of St. Catherine, where she conducts the Women’s Choir, the Choral Society, and the Madrigal Singers. She also teaches courses in conducting and voice. She holds masters and doctoral degrees in choral conducting from Indiana University and the University of Iowa, respectively, and a bachelor of Music Education from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. Her conducting teachers included Don V Moses, Julius Herford and Helmuth Rilling.
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 | Dr. Connors has served as guest conductor/clinician for choral festivals in Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa, including the Indiana All State Women’s Choir, the Minnesota Community College Honor Choir, Star of the North Chamber Choir Festival and the Drake Choir Festival.
She and her husband Russ, a theology professor at St. Kate’s and tenor in the Choral Society, have two children, Elizabeth and Patrick. Dr. Connors’ edition of Miserere mei, a work in 6 movements for women’s voices and string orchestra by Johann Adoph Hasse (1699-1783), which had its “American Premiere” April 8, |
| 2001, with the College of St. Catherine Women’s Choir, has recently been published by Alliance Publications, Inc., Fish Creek, WI. |
Audition Information - Summer 2008
*July 28 - 31 and August 20 - 22 for community members *
** Sept 1 - 2 for St. Catherine Students * *
| Auditions are held each year in August and January. Call Dr. Connors at 651-690-6688 or email pcconnors@stkate.edu to schedule an appointment. Be prepared to sing one song with accompaniment (bring the music if possible) and several vocalises to explore your range and ability. Click here for more audition information. |
Quotes
"When I was looking for a chorus, it was very important to me to find a group that combined a professional attitude with a fun atmosphere. The St. Catherine Choral Society is the perfect mix - an experienced conductor who strives to expand musicians' skills, and performers who care about the music and make it come to life. Singers and concert-goers, take note of this chorus!"
- Kristin Lennert Murra, SCCS Alto
"Singing under the direction of Dr. Patty Cahalan Connors is a joy! She is a vibrant conductor and teacher who is committed to musical excellence. Patty infuses each rehearsal with her energetic and friendly style, inviting rather than demanding, musical accuracy, proper vocal technique, and expression from the group. With Thursday rehearsals and two concerts a year, The St. Catherine Choral Society is the perfect group for a person who loves to sing, but doesn't have hours and hours to devote. I am a veteran singer who has sung in numerous groups over the years, but singing with the St. Catherine Choral Society has certainly been the most rewarding and exhilarating!"
- Jean Smaby Remus, SCCS Soprano
"I love the experience of preparing challenging works and the joy of preforming these pieces with a professional orchestra. I'm amazed at the quality of the singing, considering most of the members are untrained musicians, and the fact that we only rehearse several hours a week. Patty is an excellent conductor and has a way of bringing the best out of the singers." - Ron Lutz, SCCS tenor |
Rehearsal/Performance Information
| When: | Thursday evenings during the academic year, 7 - 9:15 p.m.
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| Where: | Music Building Rehearsal Hall, The College of St. Catherine (2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul).
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| Who: | Membership is by audition. Any adult (post high school) with successful choral experience is invited to audition.
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| Participant Fee: | $30.00 each semester.
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| Attendance requirements: | A choir member may miss no more than two rehearsals in a given semester in order to perform in the concert.
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| Performance Attire: | “Concert Black”:
women - long black gowns, skirts and blouses, or dressy pantsuits; men - black (or very dark) suits or tuxedos. |
2008-2009 Calendar
| Thurs., Sept.4 | First Rehearsal | 7 - 9:15 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 15 | Dress Rehearsal | 9 a.m. - noon, Holy Spirit Church (Randolph/Albert) |
| Sun., Nov. 16 | Rehearsal | 12:30 p.m., Holy Spirit |
 | Concert | 2 p.m. |
| Thurs., Feb. 4 | Rehearsals resume | 7 - 9:15 p.m. |
| Thurs, Mar 20 & Apr 9 | No Rehearsal | |
| Sat., May 2 | Dress Rehearsal | 9 a.m. - noon, O'Shaughnessy Aud. |
| Sun., May 3 | Rehearsal | 1 p.m. |
| Concert | 3 p.m. [Beethoven Mass in C] |
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