Since the Chorale began in 1978, we have been fortunate to perform under the baton of talented and dedicated artists. The Chorale began in 1978 as the Wisconsin Vocal Ensemble with David Saladino, a local musician and high school music teacher, as the first music director. During his tenure, the group was featured in the first Fox Valley Arts Alliance Pops concert and collaborated with the Lawrence University Concert Choir.
During the 1981-82 season, Timothy Carney, then teaching at Ripon College, was hired as music director and led the WVE in the annual Lessons and Carols concerts, as well as in notable concerts of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass and Schönberg's Friede auf Erde. Tim went on to teach at St. Olaf college and then earned a doctorate in choral music from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He returned from Hawaii during the 10th anniversary season to guest conduct with Rick and Kate. In Hawaii he teaches at Chaminade University and formed the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble, modeled on the White Heron Chorale, in 1992.
The Ensemble welcomed a new director, Kate Tamarkin, during its fifth season and adopted its new name, the White Heron Chorale. Ms. Tamarkin also directed the Fox Valley Symphony.
Our current conductor, Richard Bjella Director of Choral Studies at Lawrence University, will begin his 21st season this fall as music director of the White Heron Chorale. His university duties include conducting the Lawrence Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Chorale, Choral Society and the Jazz Vocal Ensemble. He is a past President of the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association and has served on a variety of state and national music education boards. Under Rick's direction, the White Heron Chorale has gained a reputation as one of the area's outstanding choral ensembles and we are proud that many of his former students still sing with him.
How did the Chorale get its name?
The name, "White Heron," carries a tradition of spirited music and can be traced to the early 1800s, when Hippolyte Grignon used it as a name for his home and settlement on the banks of the Fox River. In the evenings after supper, fur traders and trappers often gathered to sing their rollicking songs around an open fire. Suitably, in 1983, the Wisconsin Vocal Ensemble chose the name, "White Heron Chorale," so that both regional and musical identities would be associated with the group.
What kind of music does the Chorale perform?
The White Heron Chorale performs a wide variety of musical styles including jazz, folk, contemporary, classical sacred, musical theatre, madrigal, gospel, spirituals and more.
Throughout its history, the White Heron Chorale has had a reputation for outstanding performances with nationally recognized groups such as Musica Sacra of New York, Dave Brubeck and his Trio, Dale Deusing, Nick Page, Margaret Hillis and the Trinity Irish Dancers.
Some of our favorite major works and concerts include:
- Fiddler on the Roof, concert style
- An evening with Rogers and Hammerstein
- All Creatures Great & Small, the music of animals
- Gypsy Spring, a celebration of Gypsy music
- Brahms' German Requiem
- Bloch's Sacred Service
- Orff's Carmina Burana
- Verdi's Four Sacred Pieces
- Bach's B Minor Mass
- Mozart's Requiem
- Britten's War Requiem
- Mozart's Mass in C minor
- It's All About Sports, a Packers game set to famous choral pieces
- Of Thee I Sing, a tribute to patriotic music
