Community band, chorus striking up for fall

Dr. Adam Lambert, CSC director of bands, will be the new director of the Chadron Community Symphonic Band while the Chadron Community Chorus will again be led by Dr. Una Taylor, CSC assistant professor of music. Both directors are inviting prospective and former members to join the group as they begin rehearsals in the coming weeks.
Lambert, an accomplished trumpet player, has been director of bands at CSC since 2005. While teaching brass and conducting, he has directed CSC's Wind Symphony and Showband. He replaces Lauren Stephens, who has stepped down from the position after one season to spend time on other endeavors. The band plans two concerts this fall. They will join the Wind Symphony for a performance in Memorial Hall Oct. 29 and team up with the Community Chorus in the Chadron Arts Center on Nov. 21. Band rehearsals will be Tuesdays beginning Aug. 31 in the Memorial Hall band room while community chorus practices are Thursdays beginning Sept. 2 in Memorial Hall room 126. All rehearsals will be 7-9 p.m.

Lambert said the band will perform music by John Williams, Percy Grainger, Alfred Reed, and selections from the Broadway production, "Les Miserables." Taylor said those rejoining the chorus can expect to sing lyrics perhaps more familiar than the past season. "Our program this semester is in contrast to last spring when we sang the Durufle Requiem," Taylor said. "Choir members will be happy to know that we will be singing music composed in English." She said this fall's repertoire will include a fun arrangement of "Buffalo Gals," a spoof on Old MacDonald titled "Old Horatius Had a Farm," a setting of an African proverb "If You Can Walk, You Can Dance, If You Can Talk, You Can Sing," arrangements of "The Rose of Sharon" and "White Horses," as well as an amusing setting of a poem by e.e. cummings called "Sam was a Man." 
Because each community music group is offered as a CSC course, participants must register and pay a registration fee of $20, payable to the music department. Members are asked to bring payment to the first rehearsal. More information can be obtained by contacting the CSC Music Department at 308-432-6375.