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Join the Fox Valley Opera Chorus: Elevating Choral Excellence

We are thrilled to invite you to be part of the Fox Valley Opera Chorus, a high-quality ensemble that will bring exceptional choral performances to the suburbs of Chicago. Following the success of our recent performance of Handel’s Messiah, which earned praise as one of the best productions in the area, we are ready to embark on an exciting journey of growth and artistic excellence.

An invitation from the Maestro

To all prospective Fox Valley Opera Choristers,

This organization was founded with the mission of enriching the Fox Valley community by bringing unique offerings and opportunities to the thriving pool of musicians and arts patrons we have in the area. The company at large has experienced wonderful growth and positive feedback for this effort, and following the success of the presentation of Handel's Messiah that many of you were a part of, our minds moved to envisioning what a functioning, established choral arm of the organization could bring to the table, both for the audience and for the singers that make the music happen. To that end, we are incredibly excited to debut the Fox Valley Opera Chorus this June.

So, what does that vision entail? To begin, this upcoming debut concert will feature choruses from myriad operas in a comprehensive concert package, tackling repertoire that does not often make the rounds of other community choirs, with a small group of local professionals joining us for concert week. From there, our first full season will begin in earnest next fall. A typical season will begin as we prepare for a holiday concert -- "Messiah" will return as an annual event, this time supplemented by additional choral holiday music. After the holidays, we intend to mount an annual springtime concert featuring a mix of contemporary choral works, opera choruses, and other masterworks. Finally, to wrap up our seasons, we will prepare to function as an actual opera chorus in a staged opera produced by the company. This unique capstone event to each year is something we hope excites you as much as it does us.

I am very eager to meet those of you I have not met, reconvene with those of you who performed on Messiah, and take this chorus's first steps together.

Warm regards,

J. MacArthur "Mac" Willaert

Music Director and Chorusmaster

Our Vision: Aiming Higher Together

The success of Messiah has inspired us to dream bigger and strive for more. We aspire to become one of the great large choruses in suburban Chicago—and, make no mistake, there are quite a few already! Under the direction of maestro J. MacArthur Willaert this goal is not only possible—it’s achievable in a remarkably short time. With the talent of great singers like you, we will aim to continuously elevate every aspect of our productions, from repertoire to venues, and expand our impact on the community.

Ambitious Repertoire

As a member of the Fox Valley Opera Chorus, you will have the opportunity to perform symphonic choral masterworks such as Carmina Burana & Verdi's Requiem, contemporary choral works, and in staged operas! We are committed to providing you with the resources and support you need to succeed in these challenging works, including part-specific recordings, practice tracks, and language coaching.

Chorus Resources

How Membership Works

Membership in the Fox Valley Opera Chorus involves a dues-based structure, which will directly fund:

Paid positions within the chorus
Orchestra and other accompaniment for performances
High-quality rehearsal and performance spaces
Other operational needs

As a dues-paying member, you will also contribute to raising awareness and supporting local charities, a core value of our organization.

*Update: Dues for the Spring/Summer of 2025 have been waived!*

Support Beyond Membership

While membership dues will help cover operational expenses, additional funding will be needed to support the scale and growth of our productions. We encourage those who are able to consider making a donation to help fund scholarships for choristers and support our artistic goals. If you would like to make a donation please click here or use the button at the bottom of the page titled "Give."

There is still time to join for the Summer Spectacular! Rehearsals begin April 29th

June 8, 2025 Concert Repertoire

Bizet: Habanera from Carmen

Donizetti: Com' e' gentil from Don Pasquale

Gilbert & Sullivan: Once More Gondolieri from The Gondoliers

Mozart: Finale from The Magic Flute

Puccini: Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly

Puccini: Te deum from Tosca

Puccini: Nessun dorma from Turandot

Verdi: Libiamo ne' lieti calici from La Traviata

Verdi: Va pensiero from Nabucco

Wagner: Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin

Rehearsals

Tuesdays April 29th - June 3rd

7:00-9:00 PM

Oswego Presbyterian Church

1976 IL-25

Oswego, IL 60543

Dress Rehearsal

Saturday, June 7th

12:00-5:00 PM

Norris Cultural Arts Center

1040 Dunham Road

St. Charles, IL 60147

Concert

Sunday, June 8th

3:00 PM (2:00 PM call time for chorus members)

Norris Cultural Arts Center

1040 Dunham Road

St. Charles, IL 60147

To take the first step towards joining, please write us at chorus@foxvalleyopera.org to introduce yourself. Thank you for being part of Fox Valley Opera. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next!

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