Archive
A GOOD PLACE TO CARRY A TUNE
Mendelssohn Club starts its centennial year with search for new members
SHARON HONG STAFF WRITER
Section: - - -, Page: A8Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010
ALBANY -- "Doo bee, doo bee, doo bee, doo bee," sang the eclectic group of men as they broke into four parts during a run-through of the upbeat but difficult song "Rhythm of Life" from the Broadway musical "Sweet Charity."
"We've lost members because of this one," joked conductor Victor Klimash.
This is rehearsal for the Mendelssohn Club, the Capital Region's longest continuously performing arts group. And even though Klimash was only joking, the club is really looking for some new members.
The Mendelssohn Club performs classical, religious and contemporary choral pieces, and its 70 members, who range in age from 20 to 90, have performed at Lincoln Center, the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City and at The Egg in Albany. Members are traditionally recruited twice a year -- in September and January -- but this time it's special.
"This year is our 100-year anniversary, and we'd love to recruit a good crop of new members," said the club's president, Mike Palumbo.
New members do not have to be able to read music. Prospective members are invited to attend weekly rehearsals through January and will have a formal audition at the end of the month. Rehearsals began last week.
"Anyone who has interest is welcome," Palumbo said.
At least one prospective new member attended the first rehearsal of the year. Doug Boettner, a retiree who described himself as a music lover and trained vocalist, sat in the back row of the bass section at the suggestion of his doctor.
"I told him I was trying to pursue a solo singing career, and he told me about the club," Boettner said. "When he threatened to stop being my doctor, I decided to come."
Founded in 1909 by Dean T.J. Bradley of the Albany College of Pharmacy and Frank Sill Rogers, organist and choirmaster for St. Peter's Episcopal Church, the club has performed with acclaimed classical singers Eileen Farrell and Maureen Forrester and Hollywood singer Nelson Eddy.
Clayton Besch of West Sand Lake joined the club in 1956 when he was in his 20s and has been a member ever since.
"As a boy I started as a soprano and now I ended up a bass," Besch chuckled. Palumbo says it's also a good way for music enthusiasts that have kept it a hobby to have an outlet
"Honestly, as you get older, it's harder to continue pursuing music," he said. "This is just one way to stay connected. Every week we try to get better and it's a great feeling to be around people that love music and perform at such a high caliber."
Sharon Hong can be reached at 454-5414 or by e-mail at shong@timesunion.com.
BOX:
Mendelssohn Club of Albany rehearsals
When: Every Wednesday
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Where: New Covenant Presbyterian Church
916 Western Ave.
Albany, NY 12203
For more information see their website at www.mendelssohn.org
BOX:
Mendelssohn Club of Albany rehearsals
When: Every Wednesday
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Where: New Covenant Presbyterian Church, 916 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203
For more information see their Web site at http://www.mendelssohn.org.
"We've lost members because of this one," joked conductor Victor Klimash.
This is rehearsal for the Mendelssohn Club, the Capital Region's longest continuously performing arts group. And even though Klimash was only joking, the club is really looking for some new members.
The Mendelssohn Club performs classical, religious and contemporary choral pieces, and its 70 members, who range in age from 20 to 90, have performed at Lincoln Center, the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City and at The Egg in Albany. Members are traditionally recruited twice a year -- in September and January -- but this time it's special.
"This year is our 100-year anniversary, and we'd love to recruit a good crop of new members," said the club's president, Mike Palumbo.
New members do not have to be able to read music. Prospective members are invited to attend weekly rehearsals through January and will have a formal audition at the end of the month. Rehearsals began last week.
"Anyone who has interest is welcome," Palumbo said.
At least one prospective new member attended the first rehearsal of the year. Doug Boettner, a retiree who described himself as a music lover and trained vocalist, sat in the back row of the bass section at the suggestion of his doctor.
"I told him I was trying to pursue a solo singing career, and he told me about the club," Boettner said. "When he threatened to stop being my doctor, I decided to come."
Founded in 1909 by Dean T.J. Bradley of the Albany College of Pharmacy and Frank Sill Rogers, organist and choirmaster for St. Peter's Episcopal Church, the club has performed with acclaimed classical singers Eileen Farrell and Maureen Forrester and Hollywood singer Nelson Eddy.
Clayton Besch of West Sand Lake joined the club in 1956 when he was in his 20s and has been a member ever since.
"As a boy I started as a soprano and now I ended up a bass," Besch chuckled. Palumbo says it's also a good way for music enthusiasts that have kept it a hobby to have an outlet
"Honestly, as you get older, it's harder to continue pursuing music," he said. "This is just one way to stay connected. Every week we try to get better and it's a great feeling to be around people that love music and perform at such a high caliber."
Sharon Hong can be reached at 454-5414 or by e-mail at shong@timesunion.com.
BOX:
Mendelssohn Club of Albany rehearsals
When: Every Wednesday
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Where: New Covenant Presbyterian Church
916 Western Ave.
Albany, NY 12203
For more information see their website at www.mendelssohn.org
BOX:
Mendelssohn Club of Albany rehearsals
When: Every Wednesday
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Where: New Covenant Presbyterian Church, 916 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203
For more information see their Web site at http://www.mend
