Salina Chorale will perform variety of music from animated film scores to sacred classics

An array of choral pieces from different backgrounds will resound in the historic Stiefel Theatre Sunday as the Salina Chorale performs its culminating spring concert.

The chorale, under the direction of William Tuzicka and accompanied by Sue Will, has been rehearsing to take the audience on a musical journey titled "This and That." It will perform a wide variety of musical styles with some of Tuzicka and the chorale's favorite pieces.

"There's a little bit of something for everybody," Tuzicka said.

Chorale will perform Easter Spirituals, tunes from animated films, and more

Each season, stretching from fall to spring, the Salina Chorale rehearses and performs an array of music styles, from sacred hymns to classical Broadway, folk, patriotic and ethic songs.

This spring's program, "This and That," goes to display the wide repertoire of the Chorale while providing an enjoyable experience for a diverse audience.

Tunes featured in this spring's concert include: the traditional Easter Spiritual, “Angels Rolled the Stone Away,” “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” “For the Beauty of the Earth,” “Danny Boy,” “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John for the musical The Lion King, “Somewhere Out There” recorded by Linda Ronstadt for Universal’s motion picture An American Tail, “God Bless the Outcasts” and more.

Salina Chorale encourages community to join, seeks board members

The Salina Chorale is an organized group of singers from the greater Salina community who enjoy singing ensemble music and volunteer their time and talents to rehearse and perform with the Chorale.

The Chorale is an outgrowth of the Salina Community Chorus, which began in 1961 under the direction of John Sample. The group reorganized as the Salina Chorale in 1979.

About 60 members are singing with the Chorale this spring, but it has about 80 members in total. Each spring and fall, the public is invited to join the Chorale if they are interested in singing ensemble music. There are no auditions to join, but the group encourages those interested to be able to read music.

Each year, the Chorale performs Christmas and spring concerts, with features from the Salina Symphony as part of the holiday concerts.

Berthenia Banks, who goes by BJ, is president of the Salina Chorale Board and an alto in the Chorale. After last year, which served as the Chorale's comeback year after the COVID-19 pandemic, Banks said she is thankful to be part of the group.

"I love hearing what we produce," Banks said. "Not until we come together on stage here, does it actually become real for me."

Banks encourages anyone who enjoys singing to join the Chorale. There are even board positions open with opportunities to give back through involvement, she said.

"We have a lot of fun in rehearsal," Tuzicka said. "We don't take ourselves too serious, because this is really about coming together and making music for fun. That's what music should be about."

Tuzicka has been conductor and music director for the Salina Chorale since 2009. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Bethany College and Master of Music Education degree from Wichita State University. He taught choral music at Southeast of Saline for 37 years.

Tuzicka, who also serves as the technical director and director of operations at the Stiefel Theatre for Performing Arts, said he hasn't met anyone who could not sing if they wanted to. With effort to overcome hurdles and limitations, he said, people are capable of more than they might realize.

"That’s what this place is for, if you want to sing, we have a place for you to come and do it," Tuzicka said.

When is the concert and how much are tickets?

When: 4 p.m. April 30

Where: Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Salina

Cost: Adults: $15; students (grades 1-12): $10; children Kindergarten and younger are free

Tickets are available on the day of the concert at the door; all general admission open seating. For more information or questions, people can reach out to choralesalina@gmail.com or call 785-823-9149.

Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: "This and That" concert features variety of music from Salina Chorale