Grande Prairie Choral Arts Singers
Artistic Director – Jo Rodenburg
Grande
Prairie Artistic Director Jo Rodenburg’s musical history includes more
than three decades of performance in vocal music repertoire. Her musical
training began at the age of 5 studying piano, and later the violin at
the age of 8. She was a member of the opera studies training at the
Manhattan School of Music at the age of 18 and also studied voice,
focusing on new music, at the New England Conservatory. Her career as an
operatic mezzo-soprano includes Bizet’s sultry Carmen, which garnered
critics’ praise for her “physical athleticism” and her “voice of
stunning beauty.”
As Prince Orlofsky, she was hailed as a “quiet riot!” by the Chicago
Tribune, who took in her performance as Eduige in last season’s Handel
Week Festival, citing her “big, dark, contralto-ish sound.” In concert,
she was featured soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir
Georg Solti, James Levine and Maestra Margaret Hillis in works of
Berlioz, Verdi, Pergolesi, Corigliano. She appeared as a soloist in the
CSO’s premiere performance of David Byrne’s “The Forest.” Throughout her
vocal career, Ms. Rodenburg has had many associations with choral
groups, such as the Music of the Baroque, Grant Park Symphony Chorus and
Chicago Symphony Chorus, where she was a recipient of the coveted Scholl
Foundation Grant, which promotes the development of exceptional vocal
talent. She has also performed abroad in concert and recital and in the
States has appeared with numerous regional orchestras and choral
organizations as soloist.
Ms. Rodenburg is delighted with her most recent association as Artistic
Director with the Grande Prairie Singers, whose legacy in the community
has been one of musical excellence and fellowship. Together we look
forward to continuing as ambassadors of the choral arts in our community
and promoting this art in the community abroad.
A Season Of...
New places and familiar faces… Masterworks and Master classes… A taste of wine and a toast to the future…
Of music in the grande tradition!
The Grande Prairie Singers have been making beautiful choral music available in the Chicago Southland for over a quarter of a century. Beginning in 1977 as the Park Forest Singers, they have grown to include the finest voices from 28 suburbs and villages. Our members come from all walks of life and range in age from 17 to 80!
Grande Prairie Choral Arts Singers - Jo Rodenburg, South Suburban Choir, Chorus, Park Forest Singers, Vocals
Lockport, Palos Park, Orland Park, Dyer, Schererville, as well as other south suburbs of Chicago.