On the Bright Side: Students join choral group

By Denise Richardson
Staff Writer

May 29, 2009 04:00 am

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ONEONTA _ Four area high school students will sing with the Catskill Choral Society in its spring program at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Andrea Taylor, of Gilbertsville, will be featured as soprano soloist in John Rutter's ``Requiem.'' Soprano Jenna Konstantine, tenor Martin Couch, both of Oneonta High School, and soprano Maeve McNulty Czapsky, of Unadilla, also will perform in the program, titled "Essays of Life by English Composers."

The concert also will include John Tavener's ``Song for Athene,'' Georg Frederic Handel's ``The King Shall Rejoice'' and William Byrd's ``I will not leave you comfortless.''

The students have taken private lessons and rehearsed with the chorus as Dox Apprenticeship scholars.

Taylor said to prepare for the concerts, she has been listening to recordings and practicing with help from Anna Wentlent, choral director at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School. Taylor, who had to audition for the solo, said she is excited to have the opportunity to perform the piece with the society.

``It's a beautiful piece,'' Taylor said Thursday. ``It's really fun for me. I like to sing for people because then they get enjoyment out of it as well.''

The Catskill Choral Society and its apprenticeship program is pleased to present Taylor, said Peg Twasutyn, chairwoman of the Dox scholarship committee.

``She just has the perfect voice for that piece _ it's just absolutely stunning,'' Twasutyn said.

The scholarship program and singing in the choir under the direction of Timothy Newton are wonderful opportunities, said McNulty Czapsky, 18, who is schooled at home.

``He has a wonderful sense of music,'' she said of Newton. ``He makes singing with him fun.''

Students said the Dox Apprenticeship has enabled them to develop their voices in private lessons and also by singing with more mature voices in the choir.

The Catskill Choral Society created the Dox Apprenticeship Program as an outreach to area high school juniors and seniors, offering the opportunity to rehearse and perform in fall and spring concerts and to receive free private lessons from professional voice teachers.

The program is named in honor of CCS's longtime music director, Thurston J. Dox. Eighty-seven students from throughout the area have completed apprenticeships since the program started in 1993, members said.

Selection of apprentices is based on applications, recommendations from music professionals and an audition. Twasutyn said students selected in recent auditions for next year are Annemarie Hurtibise, of Bainbridge; Heather Madero, of Morris; Xandry Langdon, of Oneonta; Joshua Baker, of Milford; Jackson Malone, of Oneonta; Mary Hetterich, of Delhi; Brandon Bascomb, of Schenevus; and Carrie Emerson, of Otego.

Twasutyn said she is waiting to hear from some students about whether they will participate, she said. Sixteen candidates had auditioned.

The cost of each $250 scholarship is paid by the Catskill Choral Society, which is raising money for the program, Twasutyn said. Contributions may be made at receptions after this weekend's concerts, organizers said, or may be sent to the Catskill Choral Society, PO Box 35, Oneonta, NY 13820, with checks payable to the Dox Apprenticeship Program.

Concert tickets in advance are $17 for adults; $12 for senior citizens; and $10 for students. At the door, tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and $10 for students.

For more information, visit www.catskillchoralsociety.org or call 431-6060.

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