Buffalo Rising Online

May 16th, 8:49am By Susan Marie

The Buffalo Select Chorus will perform their 3rd Annual Concert June 4 at 7PM in Asbury Hall at Babeville. The recital and reception is free and open to all who would like to view the evening's mixed musical repertoire and any students wishing to participate in the upcoming 2008-2009 Buffalo Select Chorus.

Sponsored by the Righteous Babe Foundation, it is the only chorus made up of Buffalo high school students, with nine different schools represented. The Buffalo Select Chorus is a talented, dynamic group that has persevered despite challenges for funding in the arts in the Buffalo schools.

In the spring of 2005, Linda Appleby (creative director and vocal instructor), along with Susan Mann Dolce (executive director) and other interested community members and parents set out to create a citywide Buffalo Public High School Chorus to begin that fall. The group would have weekly practices, play in a variety of venues over the year, have a final concert and reception, and produce a professional recording for use in the college application process. What resulted from their efforts was a selection of eight talented individuals from three Buffalo Public High Schools who gathered to rehearse once a week for six months.

The Righteous Babe Foundation took notice of these amazing singers and the need for more support to grow this fledgling group. The use of the restored Asbury Hall at The Church (now Babeville) was made available for weekly rehearsal and as primary performance space. Asbury Hall has become a Monday night "home" for Buffalo Select Chorus!

The Chorus has grown exponentially to thirty students, and in partnership with the Righteous Babe Foundation, will continue its mission: to provide a venue for Buffalo High School students to expand their vocal skills while offering actual performance experience under the tutelage of certified music teachers and professional musicians. This program of excellence will also be saying goodbye to many graduating seniors.

Buffalo Select Chorus was recently showcased on thinktwiceradio. Click the link to hear them rehearse for this concert, to view pictures and to connect to the mentors, musicians and students who make Buffalo Select Chorus a much desired investment.

Additional earlier performances as follows:

Tuesday, May 20 @ Shea's Performing Arts Center @ 7:00. This concert includes 15 of the top performing music groups of the Buffalo Public school system, including Buffalo Select Chorus, at number 13 in that concert.

Wednesday, May 21 @BAVPA Music in Action CD release concert, featuring Buffalo Select Chorus on ONE piece from the CD, and BSC's Bethany Fonda on her original composition "Hope Will Find Its Way." Program begins at 7:00