Yes! It’s “that time of year” again and Lakeside’s immensely popular choir, Los Cantantes del Lago, is already busy planning its upcoming season, details of which can be found via its website and social media pages.
Choir Director Timothy G. Ruff Welch reports that members Kathleen Carlson and Jayme Littlejohn were busy during the summer redesigning the choir’s website and this has now been implemented by Jason Taylor of Adelita’s.
The website, www.loscantantesdellago.com, contains a member’s page, newsletter, rehearsal schedule and the all-important MP3 rehearsal files for all four vocal ranges to use for private practice at home.
In addition to the regular newsletter, QuarterNote, published on the website, news updates are being posted on Facebook. To connect, click on the Facebook icon direct from the choir’s website. The same applies to YouTube music uploads.
Welch sees these innovations as a great way to keep choir members and Lakeside residents informed about everything Los Cantantes is doing, including times, dates, rehearsals and productions – even tickets are now available online!
“Everyone’s welcome to try out for the choir,” says Welch, adding that anyone thinking about joining can visit the website and click on the “Come Sing With Us!” button on the home page. This section contains lots of information about joining Los Cantantes, the commitment involved and the standard of singing expected. From here, applicants can simply complete the application form and hit “Submit.”
Welch understands that some might still be unsure or a bit shy. “I’ll be only too happy to talk to anyone, they can email me via the ‘Contact’ link on the website,” he says.
Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, October 7 and continue every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Riberas del Pilar, with the exception of November 25 and 27.
The first production on this season’s agenda is its annual fundraiser, the very popular “ShowStoppers 9 Benefit” on November 2 at St. Andrew’s. Book soon, tickets sell out fast for this event.
Next up are private fund-raisers for the Centro Educativo Jaltepec, followed by the Christmas Concerts at the Auditorio de la Floresta on December 9 and 10.
There will also be several free community concerts, to be announced later. In previous years these have included performances at the Teatro Degollado, San Luis Soyatlan, Mezcala, Chapala and San Andres.
Now in its eleventh year, Los Cantantes was founded as an offshoot of earlier choirs. The Ecumenical Choir, begun in 1998, was trained and directed for years by the late Bonnie Wolff, performing three annual December concerts. It was then taken over by Ruth O’Brien, followed by Milicent Brandow, who renamed it Los Cantantes del Lago.
The first director was Daryl Walser. Welch met him at a children’s benefit concert given by the late Harlan Snow, and became the piano accompanist for Los Cantantes.
When Los Cantantes performed Handel’s “Messiah,” Welch recorded practice tapes for members of each vocal group and Walser immediately asked him to take over.
Since then, under Welch’s expert direction, the choir’s repertoire has flourished. It has toured, to much acclaim, in Central Mexico, Ecuador, British Columbia, and in Greece and Turkey – even performing on a cruise ship on the Aegean Sea!
The choir has grown from 25-30 singers, to 50-60 today. Members clearly thrive on the friendly banter and convivial atmosphere, positively encouraged by Welch during rehearsals of even the trickiest pieces. Just watching them, they always seem to be enjoying themselves, while their beautiful performances consistently reinforce Los Cantantes del Lago’s impressive reputation.