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Serving our community
In addition to our annual concert series, the Bloomington Chamber Singers regularly produces projects and events that enrich the community. During the holiday season the group carols on the Courthouse Square and in downtown shopping thoroughfares. For fourteen years, BCS has invited the public to join in an open sing-along of the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah. An average of 300 singers and listeners attend each year to enjoy the annual tradition. In lieu of an admission fee, people are asked to bring food items or to make a financial contribution in support of the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.
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Partnering with educators
BCS understands the need to cultivate an appreciation of the arts among youth. For example, in Spring 2000, BCS organized an educational outreach program for elementary students at the Bloomington Montessori School, Unionville Elementary School, and Brown County Elementary School. Over a twelve-week period preceding a BCS performance of Haydn’s The Seasons, representatives from the choir visited the schools and introduced the students to the work. The students were involved in discussions of the music and interpreted the learning through their own art. Of the 132 drawings that the children created, half were chosen for display at Fountain Square in Bloomington. Eight of the drawings were selected for use on the concert poster and other publications. The students, teachers, and the members of BCS were thrilled with the success of the project.
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Building artistic collaborations
BCS is committed to working with and supporting other artists in and around the Bloomington area. On December 22, 2002, the ensemble presented WinterSong—a very special community offering. The profound grief and tragedy from the September 2001 terrorist attacks sparked a growing awareness of the importance of family and community. BCS wished to affirm this conviction through art. As a result, we invited other community artists to join us in the exploration of the nature of these dramatic shifts through an evening of music and poetry. We were fortunate to collaborate with Indiana University Bloomington Chancellor Emeritus Ken Gros Louis, who served as the reader for this inaugural concert. The event was a tremendous success, and strengthened the sense of community inclusiveness in Bloomington. By programming diverse texts and eclectic musical styles, we explored how different beliefs and perspectives can be complementary and enriching. We also demonstrated how an aggregation of talents produces a whole greater than its parts. The concert increased and diversified our audience base. The following year, we continued the series by partnering with Indiana University to produce SpringSong, and in May of 2006 we will present SummerSong, a community-wide songfest. |
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