May 22, 2009 - CAMP Chorus

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth

CAMP Rehoboth...

On Monday night, May 18, the new CAMP community center multi-purpose room was filled with people organizing for one of the potential multi-purposes the place has to offerroom for the new CAMP Rehoboth Chorus.

At the organizational meeting, Choral director Bill McManus introduced himself to the assembled group. Bill is a trained singer and music educator, who left the music world for a business career and is now eager to get back into music.

He was not alone. There were folks there who had been in another local chorus that had disbanded, folks who used to drive to Wilmington to sing, and others who sang in groups in their hometowns before they moved to the area. There were singers there from all over Sussex County, east and west, and beyond.

As the prospective CAMP singers introduced themselves and as Bill talked about organization, the group's direction took shapethey would meet to rehearse on Monday nights, with a few meetings over the summer, with a fall rehearsal schedule leading up to a December concert.

Added good news is that their accompanist would be the talented David Zipse, a piano virtuoso who is a familiar face in the areahe's played at the former Partner's Restaurant, done dozens of local private parties, accompanies local singers and has garnered rave review at the Autumn Jazz Festival in Rehoboth.

As for the composition of the chorus, it will be like CAMP itself, with room for all. Neither a gay nor straight chorus, all are welcome and diversity will be celebrated. In fact, a lot of things will be celebrated as the group expressed interest in show tunes, uniquely American music, and a variety of styles.

More than 25 people have expressed interest in joining the group so far and are putting out a call to friends and colleagues who love to sing to join up too. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the CAMP Chorus is invited to the Monday evening, June 15 meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. at the CAMP Community Center on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth.

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 19, No. 05 May 22, 2009