MONROE - The Bel Canto Singers will present their Spring Concert, including the Monroe Brass Quintet, at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 25 at the Monroe Arts Center. Admission is $5 at the door.
One of the features of the concert will be the performance of "Vesper," the collaborative effort of poet Dan Smith, composer Patrick Beckman and choral director Allen Redford.
Smith has an extensive history of collaborations with composer Patrick Beckman and musical director Allen Redford. Their work, "A Continental Harmony," was funded by the National Endowment for The Arts in 2000, and "A Gathering of Waters," which dealt with the great Midwestern floods of 1993, was performed in 2005.
Smith has became widely known as a poet whose work embodies the world of the family farm and has appeared in literary journals nationwide.
His book, "Home Land," was published by Bottom Dog Press in 1997. His most recent collection, "Fatherland," was published by Longhouse Press in 2009.
Smith returned to the Orangeville dairy farm where he was raised after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976. For the next 30 years, he farmed the land along with his wife, Cheryl, and their three sons.
In 2008, Smith left the family farm and relocated to a new farm in the Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin, where he and Cheryl raise organic vegetables and Smith works as a agricultural consultant. His essay, "An Honest Living," which speaks of his life on the farm and the emotional decision to leave it, was published by the University of Wisconsin in 2009.
The Bel Canto Singers began in 1979 in Monroe. For the first several years, they performed madrigals, but expanded their repertoire to include Baroque and short classical works as well as spirituals, show tunes and contemporary works by area composers.
Redford directs the group of more than 25 singers from Monroe and the stateline area. They range in age from high school students to retirees.
Redford has been director of choral music at Highland Community College in Freeport since 1992. He teaches music theory, music history, applied music and directs the choral ensembles.
As founder of the Highland Chorale and Highland Chamber Singers, Redford has directed the ensemble on tours of Europe, including performances in Italy, Austria and German as well as at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Beckman, a highly-respected composer and pianist, has taught at Highland Community College, Rockford College, the University of Illinois and Aquin High School. His "Easter Mass" was first performed at the Vatican in 1996 by the Highland Chorale, directed by Redford.
The Monroe Brass Quintet is composed of performers Randel Schneeberger, John Meyers, JoEllen Mosher, Bill Lanz and Mike Olson.
One of the features of the concert will be the performance of "Vesper," the collaborative effort of poet Dan Smith, composer Patrick Beckman and choral director Allen Redford.
Smith has an extensive history of collaborations with composer Patrick Beckman and musical director Allen Redford. Their work, "A Continental Harmony," was funded by the National Endowment for The Arts in 2000, and "A Gathering of Waters," which dealt with the great Midwestern floods of 1993, was performed in 2005.
Smith has became widely known as a poet whose work embodies the world of the family farm and has appeared in literary journals nationwide.
His book, "Home Land," was published by Bottom Dog Press in 1997. His most recent collection, "Fatherland," was published by Longhouse Press in 2009.
Smith returned to the Orangeville dairy farm where he was raised after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976. For the next 30 years, he farmed the land along with his wife, Cheryl, and their three sons.
In 2008, Smith left the family farm and relocated to a new farm in the Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin, where he and Cheryl raise organic vegetables and Smith works as a agricultural consultant. His essay, "An Honest Living," which speaks of his life on the farm and the emotional decision to leave it, was published by the University of Wisconsin in 2009.
The Bel Canto Singers began in 1979 in Monroe. For the first several years, they performed madrigals, but expanded their repertoire to include Baroque and short classical works as well as spirituals, show tunes and contemporary works by area composers.
Redford directs the group of more than 25 singers from Monroe and the stateline area. They range in age from high school students to retirees.
Redford has been director of choral music at Highland Community College in Freeport since 1992. He teaches music theory, music history, applied music and directs the choral ensembles.
As founder of the Highland Chorale and Highland Chamber Singers, Redford has directed the ensemble on tours of Europe, including performances in Italy, Austria and German as well as at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Beckman, a highly-respected composer and pianist, has taught at Highland Community College, Rockford College, the University of Illinois and Aquin High School. His "Easter Mass" was first performed at the Vatican in 1996 by the Highland Chorale, directed by Redford.
The Monroe Brass Quintet is composed of performers Randel Schneeberger, John Meyers, JoEllen Mosher, Bill Lanz and Mike Olson.