David L. Brunner will come full circle when Grande Prairie Singers’ 2023-24 season begins in Flossmoor.
The group’s new artistic director and conductor, who leads A Very Grande Prairie Christmas on Dec. 2 at Flossmoor Community Church, performed harpsichord during the first performance of what was originally known as Park Forest Singers.
“There are a handful of singers that sang with me all that time ago. It’s a joyful thing to be back as part of their new season,” said Brunner, who has a country house in Peotone where he grew up and a residence in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood.
He initially was assistant conductor of Park Forest Singers after Sandra Chabot, who was then a choral music teacher at Bloom High School in Chicago Heights and Bloom Trail High Schools in Steger, organized the community choral group in 1977 by placing an ad in the Park Forest Star newspaper.
“Eighteen singers showed up,” said Brunner who eventually became the conductor and led the group until its 10th anniversary.
“It grew quickly to a chorus. When I left there were 70 singers. What was wonderful about those years was we were growing together and learning together. Nothing was impossible so we did everything we wanted to try to do. It was a lot of fun and it was a great experience for all of us.”
Brunner, who worked for 30 years as professor of music and director of choral activities at University of Central Florida, has appeared in Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, the United Kingdom and 34 U.S. states including conducting concerts of his works at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
“The people in Grande Prairie Singers are there because they love to sing. There’s no other reason. It’s been a delightful time for us to explore repertoire together,” said Brunner, who also teaches graduate students in choral music at Chicago’s VanderCook College of Music.
Grande Prairie Singers, the performing aspect of Grande Prairie Choral Arts, presents sacred and secular works as well as an audience singalong of carols during A Very Grande Prairie Christmas, which features approximately 40 vocalists, guest violinist Megan Gerhardstein and guest flutist John Wachala.
Pieces include Dan Forrest’s “Psalm 8 (Adonai, Adonenu).”
“It’s gorgeous music that feels good in your singing voice so we’re beginning with that. It’s in English and Hebrew,” said Brunner, who has been on the music faculty of what was then Thornton Community College in South Holland and choral director at what was then Rich South High School in Richton Park.
A Very Grande Prairie Christmas also includes Elaine Hagenberg’s arrangement of “Sussex Carol.”
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“It’s a tune that everybody will probably recognize,” said Brunner, who also programmed his compositions “The Apple Tree” and “Christmastide” for the concert.
Grande Prairie Singers’ season also includes Music for a Great Space at 3 p.m. April 7, 2024, at St. Veronica Parish, 1131 Douglas Ave., Flossmoor, and I Dream a World at 3 p.m. June 15, 2024, at Flossmoor Community Church, where Brunner was director of music in the early 1980s.
Singers of many levels are accepted throughout the year. A vocal placement/private audition may be scheduled via the group’s website.
A Very Grande Prairie Christmas
When: 3 p.m. Dec. 2
Where: Flossmoor Community Church, 2218 Hutchison Road, Flossmoor
Tickets: free
Information: 708-840-8444; gpsings.com
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.