By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – You know them as the chorus that sings classical, choral masterworks with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. But the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus' proud association with the orchestra has some drawbacks. You might say, the BP Chorus has a bit of an identity crisis. Many people incorrectly assume the chorus is part of the orchestra. Now, the BP Chorus hopes to distinguish itself with its first community concert series - Buffalo Sings! The first concert is Saturday.
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A single studio piano provides the quiet accompaniment for this stripped down rehearsal. On Saturday there will be three other choruses singing with the full BP Chorus. And there will be a chamber orchestra to round out the sound. Yes, a chamber orchestra - not a full symphonic orchestra. And, no, not the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
The chorus does perform regularly with the BPO - but not exclusively with the BPO. Andrea Copely is a chorus member and vice president for the chorus. She said audiences do think the two go hand in hand.
It hasn't helped that the chorus has had a couple of different names. Before it was the BP Chorus it was the Buffalo Schola Cantorum. They changed the name to the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus in 1992 to emphasize their close relationship with the orchestra.
But now, it's a little too closely linked.
Copely sits straight on the edge of her chair with her hands neatly folded in her lap. She said it is not just a question of wanting to be recognized independently. She said the chorus has to support itself. And the identity confusion can make fundraising difficult.
"People will say, sort of like, I gave at the office, meaning I gave to the orchestra," said Copely.
It is music director Doreen Rao who is charged with keeping the pulse of this one hundred forty member chorus going. Rao smiles broadly as she darts from section to section sweeping her arms through the air to pull the chorus' musical phrases together.
The celebrated conductor came in last year and has breathed new life into the 73 year-old organization. And she isn't stopping there. Rao championed the idea of the Buffalo Sings concert series. She said the series does not just establish the chorus separate from the BPO. She said it allows the broader community to connect with the chorus.
And she is not looking for a passive audience either. Rao said the idea of the series is to encourage audiences to find their own voice - and sing along. Rao believes everyone should sing and can - with a little prodding.
Rao said each concert will engage the audience in singing for a portion of the concert.
One of the dulcet voices coming from the bass section is from Bill DeRoo. He's been a chorus member for twenty years. DeRoo glances off as he talks about his fondest memories with the chorus. He still remembers where he sat at his first rehearsal. For DeRoo it's hard to imagine that everyone isn't already familiar with BP Chorus. He said they've been in the community singing for a very long time. But DeRoo said the concert series is a great way to get reacquainted.
The chorus offers its first Buffalo Sings concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral downtown. The Benjamin Britten concert features the BP chorus, along with the Buffalo Niagara Children's Chorus, St. Paul's Cathedral Boys Choristers and the Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus. That's at 7:30 PM Saturday night.