The Fourth Annual Encore Chorale Institute at St. Mary’s College, June 21 – June 25, was a huge success.   Fifty seven eager and excellent singers travelled to St. Mary’s College of Maryland to rehearse choral music, learn vocal technique and have a great time.   And a great time was had by all.

The days started with an excellent movement class taught by Shaye Moore.  She utilized Yoga, and stretching and relaxation exercises.  That got the singers ready for their first rehearsal of the day.   The voices were excellent and the blend was excellent.   Then off to lunch, followed by  a vocal technique class or a sectional rehearsal.    The singers happily rehearsed another two hours, followed by dinner.   The evenings offered excellent professional concerts presented by Saint Maries Musica, a madrigal choral ensemble performing in costume, conducted by Krystal Rickard.   They were delightful.   Brooke Evers, soprano, wowed the audience with a wonderful recital including opera, lieder and American song.   Singers also enjoyed a scenic boat cruise on the St. Mary’s River and also a tour of  Historic St. Mary’s.  Friday evening the singers enjoyed the Chesapeake Orchestra concert on the college green, conducted by Jeffrey Silberschlag, in an all Baroque concert.

The final day the Encore Choral Institute singers performed a grand finale concert, conducted by Jeanne Kelly, to a very appreciative audience.   They opened with a delightful Madrigal by Arthur Sullivan.   The diction was perfect, energy was high and the blend was excellent. They followed with a lovely performance of Vicki Tucker Courtney’s This Morning’s Paradise.  Their musicality came across with beautifully sculpted lines. Singing in the Rain was a uplifting performance and the singers truly enjoyed themselves.   A very nice touch was opening umbrellas on the final cadence.  Then on to The American Songbook with a beautiful reading of Someone to Watch Over Me by Gershwin.  The sound was passionate and the text was delivered with real sincerity.   Another Gershwin, Embraceable You, was performed with great nuance and warmth.   If I Loved You from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel showed beautiful and rich singing from both the women and men…..a real crowd pleaser.   Then on to a very entertaining and energetic performance of Make ‘Em Laugh: A Medley of Comic Songs arranged by Greg Gilpin.   It had lots of bounce and the singers had a ball performing it.   The concert closed with The Beatles When I’m Sixty Four and the audience rose to a standing ovation.   It was a fabulous and joyful climax to an exceptional five days of Encore Choral Institute at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

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