The Men of Music continues today providing excellant men's four part harmony with our present very talented director, Grace Marra, who joined the chorus in 1994.  We also appreciate the talents of  Jantz Black who serves as our accompanist.

Our year in brief

A typical season for the Men of Music consists of a fall season centered on a free Christmas Concert for the community.  Free-will offerings have raised over $90,000 for charities over the years. The group also performs for local nursing and retirement homes and other venues during the Christmas season.

The spring season focuses on a show built around a theme. This show is the primary revenue source for the group.  During the year there are numerous other performances of the full chorus and a smaller subset of the Men of Music, the Dirty Dozen. These have included performances of the National Anthem for Great Lakes  Loons baseball games, Saginaw Spirits hockey games, tennis tournaments and groups holding meetings in the Midland area.  If your organization is interested in booking the Men Of Music or the Dirty Dozen for a special engagement, or you would like more information, please call the Music Society at 989-631-5930, or our Business Manager, Wayne King, at 989-687-2394 or weking@charter.net.

Other Associations

The Music Society is today part of the Midland Center for the Arts which supports various artistic groups (such as MOM, other choruses, the Midland Symphony Orchestra, etc.) at the Center located on St Andrews Street in Midland.  The MOM is also a member of the Great Lakes Men's Chorus Association which organizes the Annual Big Sing concert each spring with all of the member choruses from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio participating.  The concert was presented in Midland in 2011 and coincided with the Men of Music's 75th anniversary of making music in the Midland area.
Men of Music, 2009
Grace Marra , Director

  Grace Marra grew up in New York State and earned a bachelor's of music degree from State University of New York at Fredonia and a master's degree in vocal performance from Colorado State University.  In 1985, Grace moved to Midland.  She became the director of the Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church in 1988.

  She has served as conductor for the Music Society Chorale and has been a volunteer conductor for Teenage Musicals Inc.  An active performer, Grace has soloed with many civic organizations and has directed the Men of Music since 1994.  Grace plays hand bells at her church, and also composes works for the Men of Music as well as her church choir. She maintains an active voice studio and many of her students have gone on to further study at the university level. In 1999 she was given the Kendall-Pelton Musician of the Year award.


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Jantz Black, Accompanist

Jantz Black is excited to begin the fall 2011 season as accompanist for the Men of Music.  Jantz grew up in rural Oklahoma, teaching himself piano by playing out of the hymnal.  It wasn’t until college that he began formal music instruction in piano and organ.
Jantz started professional church music employment in 2003, playing organ and directing various vocal ensembles.  He moved to Midland in 2008 to pursue a full-time career in church music, playing organ and directing children’s choirs at Midland First United Methodist Church.  He has also been seen around the Midland Center for the Arts in occasional appearances with the High School Women’s Chorus, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Center Stage Theater, as well as the Midland Community Orchestra and Midland High Chorus.
Jantz’s other musical interests include composing and arranging.  His first published choral work was released by Augsburg Fortress in 2006.  His other compositions include piano solos, chamber orchestra hymn arrangements, choral works, and organ works.  
Jantz holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Southern Nazarene University.  He studied piano with Prof. Robert Laughlin, Dr. Mark Reighard, and Dr. James Breckenridge.  He studied arranging and composition with Dr. Mark Reighard and Prof. James Rosfeld.  He began his organ studies under Prof. Timothy Marek, and has continued to study privately with Dr. Steven Egler, professor of organ at Central Michigan University.
Jantz currently lives in Midland with his wife, Christy, and their two children, Christopher and Maelyn.

























































Grace Marra, Director
This page was last updated: January 13, 2012

MEN OF MUSIC
Midland Center for the Arts
1801 W. St. Andrews
Midland, Michigan  48640-2695

For More information, contact:

Go to the Schedule page to see our current schedule
History of the Chorus

The Men of Music (MOM) chorus consists of men from the Midland, Michigan area who like to sing.  It was founded in 1936 as the Dow Male Chorus with membership from the men of the Dow Chemical Company.  In 1961, Dow discontinued its Music Department and the chorus became the Men of Music and along with the rest of the Dow Music Department formed The Music Society under director Ted Vosburgh. Since then there were several women directors who continued to lead the chorus.
Dow Male Chorus, 1936
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1936---------2012
76 Years of Music
Jantz Black, Accompanist