Holiday 2011 | |
Christmas Memories
Christmas Memories |
What are your favorite Christmas memories? Maybe you found them in the lyrics of one of the songs in the Bowie Senior Chorale's Holiday Concert. Songs include selections from the movie "The Polar Express", the German carol "King Glockchen", and "Grown-Up Christmas List." The Chorale also brought back "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," "The Man with the Bag," and "Deck the Nutcracker Hall," old favorites from previous concerts.  There were two performances of "Christmas Memories." The first was Thursday, December 8, at 1:00pm at the Bowie Senior Center. This concert was intended for members of the Senior Center. There was no charge for this concert, but for the first time, patrons were required to obtain a ticket from the Reception desk and encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry to obtain a ticket. Almost all tickets for this concert were distributed on the first day they became available. The evening performance of "Christmas Memories," on Friday, December 16, 7:30pm at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts was a sell-out. The energy of the Chorale was at a new high, and after the performance, everyone knew we had done a spectacular job. The hit of the evening was the encore, "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." This was the first time the Chorale had a planned encore for the audience. We thank all those who came to enjoy our music. The biggest problem of the evening was getting all the cars out of the parking lot.   The Choraleers also had a busy holiday season. In the evening of December 6, they sang at the Belair Mansion. On December 10 they sang at Patuxent Nursery and in the morning of December 12 they performed at the Pasadena Senior Center. |
Spring 2011 | |
You are Welcome Here |
The spring concert was titled "I Believe In Music." The central theme was that music is a universal language and can be very inspiring. Those that believe in music are basically happy people. Chorale Director Craig Sparks said "I've selected music which is uplifting and inspiring and goes along with this theme." Music does not have to be sacred music to be inspirational, as selections from the spring program includes "What a Feeling" from "Flashdance", "You'll Never Walk Alone" from "Carousel" and "Keep Holding On" from the television series "GLEE." Another song made famous by Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror, " extolled how we can make the world a better place by looking at ourselves. The program also included two arrangements by Craig, "I Believe in Music" from which the theme was derived and "You are Welcome Here." There were two performances of "I Believe In Music." The first was Thursday, May 12, 1:00pm at the Bowie Senior Center. There was no charge for this concert but patrons were encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry. Four blue recycling bins, overflowing with food were collected at this concert and delivered to the Food Pantry. There was standing room only again at this concert. The concert was repeated on Friday, May 20, 7:30pm at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts on Route 450. Tickets for this concert were $6.00. There were 636 tickets sold for this concert, including 34 at the door. The actual concert attendance was 538. This concert began with the Chorale entirely shrouded in darkness as the curtain went up with the members beginning "Beautiful Day" from memory. The light slowly increased as the Chorale slowly awakened to a beautiful day in song and spirit.  The Choraleers sang a selection of songs from the Spring Concert at Bowiefest on June 4, 2011. |
Fall 2010 | |
 Weathering Winter
White Christmas (Choraleers)
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"Weathering Winter" was the theme for the Chorales Holiday Concerts this year and it was certainly true for us and our patrons. Temperature for the 1:00pm concert on December 9 at the Bowie Senior center was just above freezing, and the temperature for the 7:30pm concert on December 15 at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts was in the low 20's. Seven hundred thirty one tickets at $5.00 each were sold at the Bowie Senior Center for the BCPA event. Additional tickets were sold at the door. All the chairs for the Bowie Senior Center concert were again filled. This concert was free, but a donation for the Bowie Food Pantry was encouraged. Our concert opened with an arrangement of "White Christmas" sung by the Choraleers. This was the first performance of the Choraleers in a concert setting. The Choraleers were then joined by the entire Chorale for the remainder of the performance. Each selection was preceded by poem read by one of the Chorale members. Director's Concert Notes "Last February, as my back was spasming from shoveling the six feet of snow, I had a brilliant idea over a cup of hot chocolate. The Chorale should do a concert of music about winter! The juxtaposition of biting cold and the beautiful quiet of a pristine snowfall have garnered so many poetic thoughts. In past Chorale programs, I've put together high-energy concerts with lots of rousing numbers. There are a few of those in this program, particularly Irving Berlin's "Snow" from the movie White Christmas. As a whole, though, this concert is much more intimate than some of our past spectacles. My hope is that tonight, you'll feel transported into our living room where we can sit around a warm fire and wax poetic about the cold beauty outside and the warm hearth inside." |
Spring 2010 | ||
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Broadway TodayBe Our Guest
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The Spring Concert held Thursday, May 13, at the Bowie Senior Center was a standing room only crowd. As is the Chorales custom, this concert was free, but a donation for the Bowie Food Pantry was encouraged. Tickets for the Wednesday, May 19 concert at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts were $5.00/ ticket. And for the first time, all tickets were sold. Capacity crowds at both performances - a spectacular accomplishment. The Spring Concerts showcased tunes from recent Broadway musicals including "Grease," "Les Miserables," "Wicked," "Beauty and the Beast," "Hairspray," "The Lion King," and many others. Photos from the 2009 Holiday Concerts can be found HERE. This semester brought the formalization of a small sub group of singers for special occasions to be known as the Choraleers. The group sang at "The Willows", a retirement apartment complex in Bowie in May and at the Tenth Anniversary Celebration of the Bowie Senior Center in June. |
Fall 2009
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 You Are Welcome Here
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We are now 110 members strong, with 41 sopranos, 34 altos, 19 tenors and tenorettes, and 16 basses. The Chorale sang the Star Spangled Banner, The Armed Forces Medley, and You Are Welcome Here for the Senior Center Veterans Day Program on November 5. The Chorale's 110 voices singing the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah stirred the hearts of all and the performance of "The Twelve Days After Christmas." and "the Grinch" brought smiles to the faces of everyone who attended one of the Holiday Concerts. The concerts also included an original composition by Chorale Director Craig Sparks entitled "You Are Welcome Here. " For the first time in the Chorale's brief history, the Chorale charged $5.00/ ticket for the performance at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts on the evening of December 18. 633 tickets were sold for this event. There was standing room only for the performance of the Bowie Senior Chorale at the Bowie Senior Center on the afternoon of December 10th. The room was set up with approximately 200 chairs, which were filled 20 minutes before the start of the performance. This concert was free, but a donation for the Bowie Food Pantry was encouraged. Photos from the 2009 Holiday Concerts can be found HERE. This semester brought the formation of a small sub group of singers for special occasions. The group sang at an event marking the accreditation of the Bowie Senior Center by the National Institute of Senior Centers and in December at the Patuxent Nursery. |
Spring 2009 | ||
| "Rockin' The 50s"
Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay
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The Bowie Senior Chorale received the 2009 Governor's Leadership in Aging Award in Performing Arts in recognition of excellence and outstanding contributions to the field of aging and quality of life for seniors. The Bowie Senior Chorale not only demonstrated excellence in the field of performing arts, they also demonstrated benevolence in reaching out to others less fortunate through the collection of gifts for the Bowie Food Panty at Bowie Senior Center concerts. Chorale Director Craig Sparks and Chorale Manager Morey Petrone accepted the award for the Chorale at a May 12, 2009 reception in Annapolis at which time selected members of the Chorale performed selections from the spring "Rockin' The 50s" concert. The Bowie Senior Chorale performed its spring concerts on May 14 at the Bowie Senior Center and on May 20 in the evening at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts. The Chorale relived high school days by "Rockin' The 50's". Highlights included "Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City" and "Rock Around The Clock". Seeing seniors dressed in 50's clothing was worth the price of admission. The afternoon concert at the Bowie Senior Center was standing room only. The Audience at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts was estimated at 670 people. At the conclusion of the concert at BCPA, the City of Bowie honored the Chorale and Director Craig Sparks by presenting proclamations citing volunteer efforts, community service, and artistic achievement. It is a tribute to the Chorale that it has been recognized by the City of Bowie in this manner. Click the HERE to see a copy of the original Proclamation. Click HERE to view photos from the Spring Concert. |
Fall 2008 | ||
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"A Soulful Celebration"
Hallelujah Chorus
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The Bowie Senior Chorale is now 105 members strong, with 38 sopranos, 35 altos, 17 tenors and tenorettes and 15 basses.
There are no photos from this concert available at this time. If any Chorale member has digital photos of this performance, please contact the Bowie Senior Chorale Webmaster. |
Spring 2008 | ||
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"MOTOWN
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On May 28, 2008 the Senior Chorale sang its second concert at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts. The "looked and cheered like a full house" audience was estimated at 670 people. Director Craig Sparks chose "Motown & More" for the concert theme. The Motown Sound hit it big in the 1960's primarily featuring African-American artists singing soul music with a strong pop influence. The hit tunes just kept coming and coming at the concert. To view a copy of the entire progam from the concert click HERE. To view photos from the concert click HERE. |
Fall 2007 (c) 2007 Bowie Blade-News, used by permission, courtesy Bowie Center for the Performing Arts | ||
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"Peace Around the World" Sing We All Noel
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The Bowie Senior Chorale now has 79 members, with 28 sopranos, 24 altos, 12 tenors and tenorettes and 15 basses. This time of year, it's easy for us to get cought up in the commotion of the season. Decorations seem to be everywhere and sales abound. However, beneath the glitz and commercialism lies a universal message of peace and love. Around the world, people unite in this spirit. Music captures the spirit in any language and remins us that "..love is our being, we all are one." It is our joy to share this spirit with you. HAPPY HOLIDAYS Craig L. Sparks
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Spring 2007 | ||
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"As Debonaire as Fred Astaire"
Puttin' On The Ritz
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Any Chorale member who has information which could be used to fill this space or a printed copy of the original Concert Program please contact the Bowie Senior Chorale Webmaster. To view photos of the concert click HERE. |
Fall 2006 | ||
"A Patriotic Holiday"
Star Spangled Banner
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Any Chorale member who has information which could be used to fill this space or a printed copy of the original Concert Program please contact the Bowie Senior Chorale Webmaster. To view photos of the concert click HERE. |
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>Spring 2006 | ||
"Movies and Musicals"Rock Island
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Any Chorale member who has information which could be used to fill this space or a printed copy of the original Concert Program please contact the Bowie Senior Chorale Webmaster. To view photos of the concert click HERE. |
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Fall 2005 | ||
"Lifting Our Spirits"
People Get Ready
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Any Chorale member who has information which could be used to fill this space or a printed copy of the original Concert Program please contact the Bowie Senior Chorale Webmaster. Click HERE to see photos of the concert. |
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Spring 2005 | ||
Program
Till There Was You
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Any Chorale member who has information which could be used to fill this space or a copy of the Concert Program please contact the Bowie Senior Chorale Webmaster. Photos of this concert are HERE. |
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Fall 2004 | ||
Program
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
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Fall rehearsals began in September, 2004 on Thursday mornings with 35 members. "When I took this job I expected a bunch of old geezers and grannys in wheel chairs or walkers who could hardly carry a tune. To my great surprise, the Senior Cener Seniors were vibrant and energetic - some could even read music." - Craig Sparks The holiday performance of the Bowie Senior Chorale was sung to a packed house on both December 8th and 14th at the Bowie Senior Center Pictures of this performance can be found HERE. |
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Spring 2004 | ||
Program
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
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Any Chorale member who has information which could be used to fill this space or a copy of the Concert Program please contact the Bowie Senior Chorale Webmaster. |
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Fall 2003 | ||
Program
Now Let Every Tongue Adore thee |
Any Chorale member who has information which could be used to fill this space or a copy of the Concert Program please contact the Bowie Senior Chorale Webmaster. |
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