Music

Durango Choral Society sings of soaring

Rhonda Muckerman is the artistic director and conductor of the Durango Choral Society. (Courtesy)
‘Take Flight’ is a musical journey to the sky

The Durango Choral Society opens its 2024-25 season this weekend with a program titled “Take Flight.”

“Our audience will find this particular program to be uplifting, inspiring and expansive,” said Rhonda Muckerman. “My objective is to continue the long-standing tradition of vocal excellence and high-quality repertoire along with performances that will energize, inspire and uplift our audiences.”

For two years, Muckerman worked alongside Linda Mack Berven as both assistant and associate conductor before taking over the helm of the Choral Society last spring.

“Our numbers are growing with a significant number of new members in addition to our seasoned regulars,” Muckerman said. “The enthusiasm and fresh energy in our rehearsals, and in our organization in general is palpable.”

If you go

WHAT: “Take Flight,” The Durango Choral Society and Women’s Choir, Rhonda Muckerman, conductor.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: Christ the King Lutheran Church, 495 Florida Road, Durango.

TICKETS: $20 general, $5 students and free for children under 12, available at www.durangoconcerts.com; The Welcome Center, 802 Main Ave.; 247-7657; and at the door.

MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.durangochoralsociety.org.

The multivoiced Choral Society will be joined by the Durango Women’s Choir in a program that begins with a work that functions like a spirited brass fanfare: “Festival Gloria,” by Craig Courney. Works about birds, dreams, the sky and aspirations of freedom like the spiritual “Let Me Fly” will follow. Rollo Dilworth’s “When Dreams Take Flight” immediately precedes a tune familiar to many, “Blackbird,” made famous by The Beatles. The program will close with a new work by contemporary composer, Elaine Hagenberg, “Measure me, Sky!”

Future Choral Society concerts have been scheduled, including the big holiday offering at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on Dec. 8. In late March, the Choral Society has invited the Telluride Singers to join them again, and a late-April offering of twin concerts will be followed a month later with the always entertaining annual Cabaret on May 18.

Judith Reynolds is an arts journalist and member of the American Theatre Critics Association.