The St. Joseph Community Chorus, under the artistic direction of Frank D.
Thomas and founded in 1980, presents interesting, challenging and diverse
programs of choral music from the classical to contemporary throughout the
Midwestern United States. The Chorus enjoys a rich history of outstanding choral
performances in many beautiful settings.
In addition to its three-concert season, the Chorus collaborates with the St.
Joseph Symphony each year performing such works as the Haydn Creation,
Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Britten’s War Requiem, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony, and
Verdi’s Requiem. The Chorus has also performed exchange concerts with other
community choruses and has performed on the Moberly, MO Performing Arts Series
as well as at the Mound City State Theater Arts Association and the Hiawatha
Arts and Theatrical Society. In February 2005, the Chamber Choir premièred three
Anthony Glise works with the Chorale Divertimento from Lille, France on the St.
Joseph Performing Arts series.
The Chorus has toured Great Britain and Eastern Europe participating in the
Innsbruck Choral Festival. It has performed at state and regional conventions
and premièred commissioned works by internationally known composers such as John
Bacharet, Donald Patriquin and Stephen Paulus as well as local composer Michael
Mathews.
From within the Chorus, a select Chamber Choir was created in 1987. The chamber
ensemble, invited frequently to perform at public and private events during the
year, performs on each of the chorus’ three subscription concerts. An auditioned
chamber choir traveled to France in March of 2005 to perform with the Chorale
Divertimento. Plans are underway for another exchange with this choir in 2007.
The St. Joseph Community Chorus always strives to adhere to its mission
statement that is to foster the enjoyment and appreciation of good choral music
among its membership and the community at large by providing an organization of
the highest musical caliber to present exceptional performances of choral
literature. We take pride in the fact that we regularly involve over ninety
singers from Northwest Missouri in the creative process of singing together. The
Chorus is a significant musical ensemble helping to bring the college and
community together in an artistically meaningful way.
Educational Outreach
In 2003, the Chorus developed an Educational Outreach program to take to the
elementary schools beginning in fall 2004. Elementary students from Pershing and
Edison performed with the Chamber Choir on the fall concert, and presentations
of An American Folk Journey were made to three elementary schools in Spring
2005. In Spring 2006, this award-winning program was presented to nine
elementary schools reaching over 900 fourth graders. The program will be
presented to the remaining nine elementary schools in Spring 2007. It is the
hope of the Chorus to reach out to youth and show that singing is a viable and
worthwhile lifetime creative experience and to foster an appreciation for choral
music while learning about the settling of America and the role music played.
The Chorus also sponsors a pre-contest concert for high schools from St. Joseph
and Savannah, MO, helps to host the District I Choir Auditions and invites high
school students to usher at all concerts.
For more information: 816-271-4420
Frank D. Thomas
Frank D. Thomas, in his 26th year as Artistic Director of the St. Joseph
Community Chorus, is well known throughout the Midwest as soloist, clinician and
conductor. He received his undergraduate and master's degrees from Wichita State
University School of Music, where he studied voice with Arthur Newman and
conducting with Robert Hines and H. C. Boughton. He has done doctoral work in
conducting at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and additional work at
Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey, the Oberlin Institute of Vocal
Performance Pedagogy and at the Oregon Bach Festival, Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Thomas serves the Missouri Western State University music faculty as
Director of Choral Activities, where he also teaches conducting, choral methods
and materials and voice, and supervises student teachers in elementary and
secondary choral music education. An active member of the American Choral
Directors Association, he served as chair for Community Choirs for the State of
Missouri and was Vice-President of the College and University Division of
Missouri Music Educators Association. He is a member of the Music Advisory and
Long Range Planning Committees of the St. Joseph Symphony Board of Directors.
Thomas directed church choirs for many years and serves as cantor for Temple
Adath Joseph. In 1995, he received the city of St. Joseph, MO. Mayor’s Artist of
the Year Award and in 1995, was recipient of he Luther T. Spayde Award presented
to him by the Missouri Choral Directors Association for Lifetime Achievement and
Outstanding Contributions to the Choral Art.
David Benz
Dr. David Benz joined the music faculty at Missouri Western State University in
August 2004 teaching chamber ensemble and voice. He received two Bachelor
degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Southwest Baptist
University, his Masters of Music degree in Choral/Orchestral Conducting from the
University of Kansas, and his doctorate in Music Education from the University
of Missouri – Columbia having studied conducting with Duncan Couch. Dr. Benz has
taught choral music at the high school level in Missouri and Florida. He has
served as director of choral activities at universities in Missouri, Texas and
Louisiana. At both levels, his choirs have been noted for their tonal beauty,
technical precision and expressive artistry. He remains active serving as a
clinician for church, school and community music events, both nationally and
internationally. As a lyric baritone, he is an active soloist. In 1986, he was
chosen as the winner of the advanced division of the National Association of
Teachers of Singing in Missouri. He is especially noted for his singing of
French and German art songs.
Brenda Foster
Brenda Ewart Foster teaches piano and serves as accompanist and adjunct piano
instructor at Missouri Western State University. She received her degree in
Piano Performance from Tarkio College where she was adjunct instructor and
accompanist from 1988-1991. Past president of St. Joseph Area Music Teachers
Association and an active member of the Missouri Music Teachers Association and
Music Teachers National Association, Mrs. Foster serves as District I Auditions
Chair. She also maintains a private studio in piano, flute and voice. A member
of St. Joseph Community Chorus for several years, this is her third year as
chorus accompanist.
Sharon Gray
Sharon Gray is Director of Vocal Studies at Missouri Western State University.
With undergraduate degrees from St. Joseph Junior College and Park College, she
earned a Master of Music degree in vocal performance pedagogy from the
Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri in Kansas City. Specializing in
lieder and oratorio, she performs as soprano soloist with the St. Joseph
Community Chorus and Chamber Choir, MWSC Concert Chorale and St. Joseph
Symphony. She served as Dean of the St. Joseph Chapter of the American Guild of
Organists and was the Allied Arts Council 2001 Mayor’s Award recipient for
Individual Artist. She was the 2005 recipient of the Missouri Western State
University Distinguished Faculty Award. Serving as Minister of Music at the Zion
United Church of Christ, Ms. Gray is beginning her seventh year as Administrator
for the chorus.