Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus
Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus

 

Grand Rpaids Area Male Chorus

 

Join the Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus

All area men who enjoy singing, good camaraderie, and serving others through music are cordially invited to join the GRAMC. Organized over 60 years ago, the non-audition chorus performs for community events, retirement homes, churches, and fundraisers. 

The fall season begins in September and goes through the first week of December. Our Christmas Concert date has yet to be determined.


Rehearsals are Mondays beginning September 9 and go through December 4. Rehearsals are 6:30-8:30 pm in the  Grand Rapids High School Choir Room

 

Fee: Free to new members

For more information please go to www.gramalechorus.org or call Harry Smith (218-256-1046) or Pat Whitney (218-244-4922)

 

Practice:  Mondays, 6:30 PM. Grand Rapids High School music room.

Summer season: no practice. Special performances.

Questions?? call 218-245-1046 or 218-328-5572

 

Performances

We perform in concert regularly. There are two major concerts per season; an annual Christmas concert and an annual spring concert. The choir also performs several times a year in a variety of community settings. The next dates are just around the corner.

A Brief GRAMC Biography

The Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus was organized in 1956 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota under the name, Betty’s Boys. The first director was Betty Kauppi. The group name was soon changed to The Arion Male Chorus, named after the Greek god of poetry and music. In 1966, with the sponsorship of the Blandin Paper Company, the group became known as the Blandin Arion Male Chorus, which was later shortened to The Blandin Male Chorus. This financial support continued for nearly forty years. Due to changes in UPM/Blandin’s donation policies, however, their support for our organization was discontinued and in 2009 the chorus changed its name to the Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus (GRAMC).

 

GRAMC is non-audition and welcomes men of every age and singing ability. The chorus sings a wide variety of music throughout the year including show tunes, folk songs, classical, spirituals, sacred and humorous selections. Our membership averages 34 and ranges in age from 15 to 83, with some of our members having been in the chorus for over 50 years. The chorus is committed to performing men’s choral music for the enjoyment and benefit of our members and our audience and to encourage a lifetime of singing among men of all ages and backgrounds.

 

GRAMC has served as an integral component of the local cultural community since its inception. Members practice weekly, September through April, under the direction of Eileen Grosland with accompanist Bonnie Kangas. There are 3 scheduled events every year: a Christmas Concert, our Spring Concert and the Big Sing. We are also a service organization and share our love of music in performances throughout northern Minnesota at numerous fundraisers, scholarship drives, church services, community events and senior living homes.

 

In 1994 the chorus was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, and in 2016, was a recipient of the Blandin Legacy and Leadership Award. GRAMC is a 501[c] organization.

 

New members are always welcome and encouraged to experience singing in a male chorus. Practices are Mondays from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm in the Grand Rapids High School Choir Room. For more information, go to gramalechorus.org.

 

Accompanist, Bonnie Kangas. Bonnie began accompanying choirs while in junior high school, starting with her own junior high school choir and a special cantata directed by GRAMC’s organizer, Betty Kauppi. She is a much sought after accompanist and over the years has played for up to five different school districts and many area churches. Bonnie currently accompanies the Greenway School District choirs and bands.

 

Musical Director, 

 

The Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus is proud to introduce our new director, Linda Benge

 

Linda has been involved in education nearly her entire adult life. She is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she did graduate work in theater at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

 

Linda taught theater and choir at the middle and high school levels in Truman and Apple Valley, Minnesota. Linda also taught in Grantsburg, Wisconsin where she taught middle/high school students. In addition to teaching, Linda also directed a community choir and was her church’s choir director and organist in Grantsburg. After 21 years of teaching in Grantsburg Linda retired.

 

Linda moved to Grand Rapids in 2020. She quickly became an active, contributing community member, especially choir. She was first introduced to the Grand Rapids Area Male Choir in September of 2023.

 

Welcome, Linda. We look forward to working, playing, and performing with you for the Grand Rapids area community.

 

 

You can find us here:

Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus
Chorus Pratice Room
Grand Rapids High School
Grand Rapids, MN 55744


2024 first rehearsal: Monday, September 9

at 6:30pm


Mondays: 6:30pm to 8:30pm

 

Main doors of the Reif Performing Arts Center, thru lobby on the left to the hall to the high school. One of the singers coming to practice will show you the way to the music room.

Upcoming Dates

 

 

Concerts

 

*Christmas Concert* 

TBD

 

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

501 NW 16th St.

Grand Rapids, MN

 

******

 

SPRING HOME CONCERT

TBD

 

Reif Center

720 NW Conifer Drive

Grand Rapids, MN

 

******

 

Big Sing. 4/2025

TBD

 

 

 

Join our group!

 

1st Rehearsal:

Monday, Sept. 11

Lively practice sessions. If you like to sing, join the chorus. Come to a practice and meet the chorus and director. All singers welcome.

 

When? Mondays at 6:30 pm. Come thru the main entrance to the Reif Performing Arts Center, thru the lobby on the left to the hallway to the high school.  One of the singers coming to practice will show you the way to the music room.

Watch for the announcements of the 2023-24 season!

Join our group!

 

Activities

Annual Rummage Sale

 

Annual Retreat:

September 2023

Finn & Feathers Resort

Lake Andrusia

 

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