9/2/2009 by Beth Bily

(Photo: Symphony Chorus members in a 1961 performance of Puccini’s "Madame Butterfly.")

The 2009-10 season marks the 50th anniversary of the all-volunteer Duluth Superior Symphony Chorus that joins the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra for two to three performances each season.

The roots of the organization, founded in 1959, are classical. Most of the group’s performances during the first 20-plus years were operas. There was no Duluth Entertainment Convention Center: Instead, performances were held in the Denfield High School Auditorium. The focus of the chorus has since expanded to include pops music, and performances take place on the ALLETE stage in the DECC Auditorium.

This season the chorus takes to the stage once again for performances of “Ode to Joy” on Nov. 14, “Carmina Burana” on March 5, 2010 and a special “DSSO Chorus. Live” performance on May 15, 2010, which is a 50th anniversary celebration.

In addition to this season’s three performances, the chorus will host a celebration in spring 2010 for all current and past members. No date has been scheduled.

The season will be particularly special for chorus member and Duluth resident, Sally Rogers. She’s compiling a 50-year history of the chorus, collecting photos and other memorabilia along with the oral histories of such long-time chorus members as Robert Ballou and Rose Zimmerman. She characterizes this season as a celebration of the chorus’ “past, present and future.”

Rogers’ passion for the historical collection stems from her passion for choral music. “My father was a minister and I’ve been singing since I was born,” she said. “Life is greatly enriched by the arts.”

The chorus is under the direction of Matthew Faerber, PhD, in his ninth year as chorus master. Faerber also directs choral activities at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Chorus membership varies from year to year, but usually hovers around 100. Members come from all walks of life, said the chorus master.

Directing a volunteer chorus has its challenges, but has been a rewarding experience, Faerber said. “It’s a volunteer chorus, so one of the main challenges is getting the right number of singers for each section,” he said. “But, the people are wonderful; they’re there because they love to sing.”

The chorus is more than a creative outlet for members; it also plays an important role in the symphony orchestra, said Executive Director Andrew Berryhill. “We have a professional orchestra, but you don’t often find people who are ready to sign Beethoven’s Ninth,” he said. “We couldn’t do what we do without the chorus.”

“Often, a composer’s large scale works are written for both orchestra and chorus,” Faerber said. “Without the chorus, many of these great works couldn’t be performed.”

Rogers hopes this season’s anniversary will spark renewed interest in vocal chorus performing by the next generation. Members of the chorus don’t have to have solo-level skills, just the ability to sing a part along with some choral experience, she said. Members are not required to commit to all performances in a season, but rather one performance at a time.

For more information on chorus performances or to see a listing of all 2009-10 Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra events, visit www.dsso.com. For more information about becoming a member of the chorus, contact the orchestra office at 218-623-3776.

You can contact Beth Bily at beth@businessnorth.com.

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