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Mission

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Introduce good choral literature, music history and proper choral singing technique for greater enjoyment of choral music for singers and listeners in our community.

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Past Music Themes

♫ Choral Music in America (1742-1990)

♫ Madrigals

♫ Hungarian Choral Music

♫ Christmas Carols Around the World

 

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Harstine Community Hall performances are free, presented as a gift to the community. Donations are accepted to defray the cost of the music.

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2007 Performance Dates:

♪ June 9, 3:00, St. Hughe's Episcopal Church, Allyn

♪ June 9, 7:00, Harstine Community Hall

♪ June 10, 3:00, Harstine Community Hall

♪ December 8, 7:00, Harstine Community Hall

♪ December 9, 3:00, Harstine Community Hall

♪ December 16, 3:00 Shelton High School Auditorium

Harstine Island Community Choir was established the fall of 2004 with the goal of providing a meaningful interactive vocal experience for local residents interested in exploring their amateur or professional singing skills. With music ranging from classical through traditional to popular selections, their summer and winter concerts are drawing larger and larger audiences. Organized and directed by a professionally qualified and conservatory trained director, the music presented is the result of hard work and practice, which is the only cost of membership in this growing chorus.

Selections in concert have ranged from Bartok to Mozart, from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols to German carols such as O Du Froeliche, from the Israeli Folk song Hava Nagila to Dawsons’s spiritual Soon Ah Will Be Done, from Haydn’s Gloria in Excelsis Deo to Fine/Copland’s Shaker song Simple Gifts. The main thrust is a broad, rich musical experience for those interested in raising their voice in song.

The music variety is more vividly illustrated by the June concert themes, such as the inaugural concert of Choral Music in America (1742-1990), then Madrigals, and now the Hungarian Concert in June 2007. The music is not only presented in song, but is accompanied by script and discussion to provide the historical background and different music qualities of the songs.

The choir rehearses every Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 from September to mid June. Although a choir for Mason county and beyond, our name is derived from the location of our rehearsal venue, Harstine Island Community Hall. The rehearsals are structured for building and re-awakening vocal skills that haven't been used for a while, since one often hears, "but I haven't sung since high school choir." At the start of each rehearsal, the director presents exercises not only to build vocal range, flexibility and blend, but exercises are also designed to introduce the singers to patterns and nuances of the music they are learning, facilitating and enhancing the pleasure of singing.

Choir members range from teens in junior high and high school to senior citizens in their seventies, from Shelton, Arcadia, Lake Limerick, Mason Lake, Timberlakes, Harstine Island, Allyn, Belfair..). Membership is open to all singers, from those who have never sung before to those with stage experience. Residents are encouraged to audition for the choir. For information on this painless and comfortable opportunity, call Elizabeth Berndt, 432 9940 or e-mail: elizabeth@soundplan.com.

 

Director

Elizabeth Berndt

Mrs. Berndt studied conducting under Ron Jeffers at Oregon State University, as well as voice, piano and conducting at the Conservatory of Music and the Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Germany. She holds degrees in Music and Music Education with an emphasis on Choral Conducting, as well as a degree of Master of Education.

She has more than a decade of experience as a high school music teacher. She has also been accompanist for many choirs, including accompanist for the German American Choir in Stuttgart, Germany. Mrs. Berndt was a soprano singer and rehearsal director for the Karlshöhe Kantorei for 9 years prior to returning to the United States.

Accompanist

Mary Beth Morris

Mrs. Morris holds a degree in Music Education from Washington State University with a major in piano studies. She is also founder and pianist in the Mason Lake Piano Quartet.

How to get to the Community Hall where we practics? Follow the map below:

Harstine Island, Mason County, Washington State, USA

Pictures from choir practice and performances

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