How do you get to the Frauenthal? Practice, practice, practice!
After months of preparation, WMS Children’s Choir, Debut and Premier Strings take over Frauenthal stage for annual collaborative concert
Muskegon, Michigan, March 13, 2023— It’s the thrill of the year for 80 area young musicians and their parents, siblings and relatives when the West Michigan Symphony Children’s Choir, Debut Strings and Premier Strings take over the Frauenthal Center stage for their annual collaborative concert. These audition-based groups build ensemble skill through weekly rehearsals and multiple performance opportunities annually. The long-awaited concert, featuring everything from Mozart to Queen, will be held at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, March 26. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students. Children under three are admitted free. To order, call 231.727.8001, visit the Frauenthal box office or purchase online at www.westmichigansymphony.org.
The Children’s Choir will perform Donald Moore’s setting of Haydn’s Gloria Canon, Pinkzebra’s “Sing,” and Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” and will be joined by Premier Strings for Donald Moore’s setting of Mozart’s Alleluia Canon. All three ensembles will collaborate to perform “Glorious,” by Stephanie Mabey. The strings will perform the Waltz from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Lauren Bernofsky’s Heart of Fire, and John Berry’s arrangement of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
With the goal of providing children quality music education of the highest level, the WMS Children’s Choir strives to enrich the lives of youth from all backgrounds and to be an integral part of the artistic community in West Michigan. Beth Slimko,the WMSCC conductor, is also director of the North Muskegon Public School choir program and vocal music specialist for elementary music.Debut Stringsintroduces beginning and intermediate students to large ensemble performance through challenging and diverse repertoire. Students in Debut Strings have at least two years of playing experience and strong note reading skills. Premier Strings is made up of intermediate to advanced string players who act as mentors to the Debut Strings members and have the opportunity to perform on stage with the West Michigan Symphony at the spring Link Up concerts. Director Angela Corbin is also Orchestra Director at North Muskegon Public Schools.
