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With the 2007-2008
season, the chorus celebrates 72 years
singing for Midland audiences. The current chorus numbers over
60 members representing over 1000
years of experience. The age of our singers ranges somewhere between mid-30s
and early 90s. Four periods define the history of the chorus. The group started in 1936 as
the Dow Male Chorus. Membership at that time was restricted to Dow Chemical and
Dow Coming employees. From 1936 to 1943 the chorus developed under four
short-term conductors. The
chorus grew to over 100 men under Ted Vosburgh, who was the longest tenured
director, lasting from 1943 to 1964. Many concerts were given all over the
state and across the country. Under sponsorship of the Dow Chemical Company, the group also conducted
a weeklong train tour of Oklahoma and Texas, performing at Dow facilities in
those states. On another occasion the chorus traveled to Marquette, in the
Upper Peninsula, in the days before the Mackinaw Bridge was built. 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. Membership declined, and in 1972
the chorus almost ceased to exist. However, the group was committed to host the
State Sing that year, and a small group hung on to carry it off. The present chorus owes
its existence to the effort of four men who prevailed upon Ellen White, the
group's former accompanist, to become director of the chorus. Ellen's tenure is
the longest of the modern period, and during her 12 years the chorus grew to
its present size. Ellen inaugurated the annual Christmas Concert and Spring
Show. Janelle McGuire was the
second woman to direct the men. The chorus continued to grow musically and in
size during her four seasons. Julianne Davis was the third director in this
period. The chorus enlarged its repertoire significantly with increasingly
difficult numbers. Her spring shows were creative. The Men of Music continues to mature with our present talented director, Grace Marra. Grace now has had 14 years with the chorus. She also directed the mass choruses at Buffalo’s Big Sing n 1998! We welcome the talents of Laurie Habedank as our accompanist. 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 almost $82,000 for charities over the years. The group
also performs for local nursing homes and other venues, and at the Midland Mall
and the Dow Gardens Christmas Walk 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 softball and tennis
tournaments, performances for civic organizations, the Intermediate Schools
vocal clinic and groups holding meetings in Midland.
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For More information, contact: Info@MenOfMusic.org This page was last updated
on: November 02, 2007 |
