Choral Group Debuts in Wicker Park

By Amy Mikel in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 22, 2008 6:28PM

Mark Tomasino, President and Artistic Director of the Wicker Park Choral Singers, founded the non-profit ensemble in February upon realizing that there was no outlet for a choral group to rehearse and perform in the neighborhood. Auditions were held in May and the Wicker Park Choral Singers are hosting their free, debut concert tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in the historic Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

The mixed-voice ensemble consists of twenty-four singers, half of which have Bachelor's degrees in Music; all with extensive choral singing experience. The premiere concert will showcase composers including Benjamin Britten, Trond Kverno, Sergey Rachmaninoff, Johannes Brahms, and Anton Bruckner. Tomansino says the group is "dedicated to infusing choral music of the highest standard into the Wicker Park neighborhood and surrounding communities."

Auditions for the WPCS’ second season are being held on Wednesday, August 27th and Wednesday, September 3rd from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., with intentions to eventually expand the ensemble to thirty-two members. Interested singers can schedule an audition time by emailing wickerparkchoralsingers@gmail.com.

Wicker Park Lutheran Church, 1520 N. Hoyne Ave., 8/23, 3:00 p.m., free