Summer is nearly over which means the BeckRidge Chorale will soon be back at work. I miss seeing everyone on a weekly basis but the time away is not entirely spent at the practice range or golf course. No, the summer finds me listening to hundreds of new compositions; trying to find just the right songs for the next series of concerts.

Music selection is a responsibility I love when there are great choices and one I loathe when I cannot seem to find anything. I subscribe to three major choral music clubs and rely on the independent publishers to send me samples of their new publications. The listening/selection process works something like this:

Every song gets a rating. A zero rating means I never want to hear it again. Seven, eight and nine’s warrant a second listening. Ten is a definite; we will perform this piece within the next two years. Seems like a straightforward process but the criteria for those ratings include thoughts like:

• What are the lyrics?  Can I relate to the message?  Will the chorale relate?
• Does the song fit a large ensemble?
• Is it sacred, secular, traditional or contemporary?
• Is the piece, educational, inspirational or entertaining?
• Is it too simple?
• Does the piece have educational value? Will the learning process benefit our overall choral sound objectives?
• Is it harmonically interesting?
• Is there instrumentation or is the piece unaccompanied?
• Is it familiar or new?
• Is it slow, ballad style or a knock your socks off rhythmic powerhouse?
• Do we have the talent to accomplish the objectives of the composer and arranger?
• Does it fit with the theme of the concert?
• Will the song touch someone?

For a number of years, we surveyed our audience after every performance asking them to identify their favorite choral selection. Throughout the years, there was never a song someone did not identify as a favorite. Those results told me, we were meeting the objective of our vision: Touching hearts, souls and minds through music.

Next week, the BeckRidge Chorale will leave the comfort of lawn chairs and barbeques and gather to begin the process of celebrating 35 years of making music. After sharing the memories of summer with friends, we join together to shape the vision for our upcoming concert season. Forefront in our minds will be creating music that matches our vision for those individuals, families and businesses who continue to support our organization with their attendance and gifts. At the same time, we look for ways to establish new friendships through the power of song. The BeckRidge Chorale is not an organization simply trying to impress; it is striving to inspire. If you have not experienced the BeckRidge Chorale or Village Voices, make this the year you discover music sung for you and not at you!