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 Misérables," "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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

To view photos from the concert click HERE.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.