Frankfort Vocal Coach Brings New Energy to Grande Prairie Singers

Frankfort resident Jo Rodenburg has long and interesting ties to Grande Prairie Choral Arts. Years ago, when the group was known as the Park Forest Singers and had a stellar reputation for a community chorus, Rodenburg was a visiting soloist on many occasions.

From there she moved into the role of vocal coach for some of its members. Soon, a mutual friend introduced her to one of the group's baritones, Tom Ziegler, whom she eventually married.

Fast forward a few decades. Rodenburg's vocal coaching evolved into a highly regarded Chicago-based studio for emerging operatic talent.

"It's mainly post-graduate voice majors who need polish and direction," said Rodenburg, whose focus is to help them decide what it is each singer offers as an artist and what his or her goals are.

At the same time, she was aware that the recently renamed Grande Prairie Choral Arts group was struggling to find a director, as well as its role as a community chorus in the Southland. Yet the more she thought about it, the more she knew that the questions she asked her students were the same questions the choral group needed to address.

And Rodenburg thought she might have some answers.

"They needed to have the joy and pride of what they have to offer the audience. They had been a force in this area. They needed to have a vision for where they were going," she said.

With only a two-year stint in conducting in a church setting (but a career in vocal performance), Rodenburg approached Grande Prairie Choral Arts about being its director. And they knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. They hired her, and things started looking up.

"I thought our first season together was a wonderful growing experience," Rodenburg said.

Rob Calhoon, a Homewood resident and professional musician, currently serves as president of the board overseeing the choir, and he is excited about the new energy the Grande Prairie Singers have under her artistic leadership.

"Two of the great things about Jo is that she a great vocalist, but she's also a great vocal teacher. The special way in which Jo teaches people how to use their voices has the singers energized again," Calhoon said.

That energy is encouraging people to talk to former choir members  about coming back and enticing new singers to join.

"When you sound good, you're more likely to enjoy yourself," Calhoon said.

The 2011-2012 season boasts an ecclectic mix of music that should delight a wide variety of audience members. Rodenburg has selected Bach's Magnificat with professional soloists for the Christmas concert Dec. 11 along with a "sampler platter" of holiday music. The Christmas concert also might include a few offerings from the soon-to-be formed children's choir for children in first through third grades. (This is Calhoon's pet project; check the group's website for audition details.)

The Romantics program on March 4, 2012, will feature Schubert's Mass in G, as well as other selections by or in honor of German composers and their romantic music.

"We have some real rock stars in our men's section," Rodenburg said. "This will show them off."

The final concert on May 20 will be a Bluegrass Mass by Carol Barnett with additional soloists and a live bluegrass band, thanks to the artists at .

The Grande Prairie Singers are comprised of volunteer vocalists age 16 and older who audition into the group and perform throughout the south and southwest suburbs. Auditions for the 2011-2012 season are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Grace United Protestant Church, 266 Somonauk St., Park Forest. Interested vocalists should call GPCA to set an audition time at 708-481-8684.