Choral Arts Ensemble to perform first in-person concert in over a year
After over a year of virtual performances and rehearsals, Choral Arts Ensemble is making its return — this time to an outdoor stage.
On Tuesday at 7 p.m. the ensemble will perform for an in-person audience at Essex Park Shelter Area, 5455 West River Road NW. Community members are invited to bring chairs and blankets to sit and enjoy the free concert.
After being shut down a week away from their spring concert and being virtual ever since, Choral Arts Ensemble began rehearsing in person again in late March with masks and social distancing.
However, in-person rehearsal still had certain challenges, said Rick Kvam, the artistic director of Choral Arts Ensemble.
“The Covid-19 restrictions are that you can only do 30 minutes in a space, and then you have to let the air exchange,” said Kvam. “We would do a 30-minute rehearsal, and then we would move to another big room and do another 30-minute rehearsal, and then we’d go back to the original room so we could get an hour and a half in — but it was certainly not ideal.”
Despite the maneuvering and other unexpected coronavirus-related difficulties, Kvam said the group was grateful to be able to get back to the in-person performing atmosphere.
“To see everyone’s faces, finally, while they were singing, it was just a very precious return to the beginning of normalcy,” said Kvam.
While singers have been recording their pieces alone from their homes throughout the year, this live outdoor performance gives Choral Arts Ensemble the audience they have been missing.
As a conductor for the Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota, Kvam witnessed the powerful effect of an audience firsthand this year.
“On the very last rehearsal I thought let’s go out and sing for any parents who want to be there,” Kvam said. “We did, and just the magic of having an audience there, being able to sing for a group was very exciting. I was surprised how much energy there was just from that connection.”
Kvam also emphasized his gratitude to the Rochester and surrounding communities for supporting Choral Arts Ensemble over the past year.
“When we couldn’t finish the season last year, almost all of our ticket buyers just donated the tickets, they didn’t ask for refunds. This year with our fundraising drive people were very generous to keep us afloat,” he said. “We’re feeling like it’s a privilege to sing for a community that’s so supportive.”
The ensemble’s performance on June 1 will feature works that are both familiar and special to the singing group and the community.
“We picked eight pieces that would be like the choral equivalent of comfort food,” said Kvam. “This will be a chance to relax and renew some connections that have been very distant over the past year.”
Catey Ackerman is a summer news intern for Med City Beat. A graduate of Mayo High School, she now studies criminology and English at Penn State University.
Cover photo courtesy Erin Sinnwell
