Lakeland Civic Chorus
The Lakeland Civic Chorus consists of approximately 40 Lakeland students, high school students, school music teachers, directors and community members. There are three choral ensembles available for singers: Lakeland Civic Chorus, Lakeland Women's Choir and Lakeland Chorale.
Lakeland students and community members are encouraged to audition for the Lakeland Civic Chorus.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: All college students and community adults.
WHEN: During the fall and spring semesters, the civic chorus holds rehearsals every Tuesday evening from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Rehearsals are typically in the Fletcher Music Room, C-Building, Room C-1078.
REQUIREMENTS: All performers must have sight-reading skills, be able to match pitch, have had prior choral ensemble performance experience, and be able to commit to Tuesday evening rehearsals and two to four performances during the academic year.
CRITERIA: Acceptance into the Lakeland Civic Chorus is by audition. Please contact Lakeland's Civic Chorus Director for more information.
VOICES: The chorus welcomes all voice classifications including soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
ENSEMBLES: All singers who have a successful audition shall be a member of the Lakeland Civic Chorus. All sopranos and altos who are in the chorus shall be a member of the Lakeland Women's Choir. Singers in the Lakeland Chorale are by appointment only.
The Lakeland Civic Chorus was founded in 1972 as a result of an initiative by local community members and Lakeland Community College to complement the existing Lakeland Civic Orchestra. Romeo Pallante was appointed as the first music director and conductor. The chorus moved to the Lakeland campus after the completion of the performing arts center and art gallery in 1975. Pallante served until 2002 with Chuck Valley and Herb Knoll appointed to the podium when Pallante was on sabbaticals. The Romeo Pallante Scholarship was created upon his retirement and is administered by The Lakeland Foundation. Chris Robinson became music director in 2002 and served for 12 seasons.
Leonard DiCosimo was the director from 2015-2021, and expanded the chorus to three choral ensembles available to singers on campus - Lakeland Civic Chorus, Women's Choir and the Lakeland Chorale. Under his direction, the singers performed annually for Lake County Captains baseball games and biannual services at Pilgrim UCC in Tremont. The chorus has also performed for "The Legend of Zelda - Symphony of the Goddesses" and "Distant Worlds - Music of Final Fantasy" video game concerts at Playhouse Square Center in Cleveland.
