The Crawfordsville Community Chorus received the August $1,000 Community Engagement grant from the Montgomery County Community Foundation. Around since 1951, this group typically does one program each year and this year they are planning for the Christmas season with rehearsals beginning in late fall.
New singers are always welcome and there are usually about 30-40 singers from all over the county participating. No auditions are required, just a desire to sing beautiful music, according to Mark Wollenberg, treasurer for the organization.
The conductor for the Community Chorus is Richard Bowen, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the Glee Club at Wabash College. Wollenberg says that "Bowen brings vast musical knowledge and expert directing skills to the volunteer group. He has many connections in the music world and is able to pull in guest performers to augment our local performers."
He goes on to say that "the $1,000 grant will allow us to bring in a few extra paid performers for this next concert. The extra professionals really help raise the quality of our concerts to a level not usually seen in a small community like ours." Kelly Taylor, Executive Director of MCCF, says, "The arts are an important component of our county's economic health and we're fortunate to have organizations such as the Community Chorus that offers high quality musical programs for our enjoyment and personal enrichment."