February 18, 2000
By Lisa Harter
Rehearsals at Southwestern College have become the most anticipated night of the week for choir members these days. The rhythms are sharpened, the notes to perfection, the voices artfully blended by the conductor, Dr. Terry Russell, all for the end result of a history making performance Sunday, March 19, in Carnegie Hall, the most prestigious concert hall in the United States.
While the school and the choir are committed to success, they still have a way to go to raise all the necessary funds to send them to New York. Fundraisers have been conducted, and many supporters from throughout South County and beyond have lent their financial support.
As a final send-off, the School of Arts and Communication at Southwestern College is hosting a Choir Gala Saturday, March 11. A benefit reception, scheduled at 6:30 p.m., will include a silent auction. Immediately following the reception, the choir will showcase John Rutter's Requiem Mass in its entirety. This is the piece that will be performed the following week in New York City's Carnegie Hall. The reception and concert March 11 will take place in Mayan Hall, located on the college campus at 900 Otay Lakes Road in Chula Vista.
Russell, who has been directing the SWC Choir for more than 12 years, is looking forward to this milestone in her career. She hails from another large city, Chicago, and has been the director of choral activities for public schools and community colleges throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Florida.
What she is most excited about is that, when invited to participate in this extraordinary opportunity, she didn't have to look into bringing in talent from other areas; she knew that the Southwestern College Concert Choir had all the talent it would take to WOW! them on Broadway. "This school is a gold mine of talented and bright students," says Russell.
The SWC Concert Choir is a tapestry of people as varied and contrasted as the music they sing. "It's taking a diamond in the rough, seeing the students' potential, and working with them to allow them to develop and realize their talent," she says.
For more than 30 years, the choir has been a staple of the community. The choir currently consists of 75 men and women, most of them from the South County area. Many attended area high schools like Bonita Vista, Eastlake, Sweetwater, and Montgomery. Thirty-eight members attended Southwestern College and at least 12 have sung in the group for more than 10 years.
There are 15 teachers, including retirees and four self-employed business owners from Chula Vista. Passionate about her work with the choir, Russell continues to support the established tradition of making this group a part of the community.
General admission for this special performance is $10. Tickets for the reception and performance are $20. All proceeds benefit the SWC Concert Choir. For more information or for ticket reservations, please call the Mayan Hall box office at (619) 482-6367.
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