KU Division of Organ and Church Music

Yesterday evening, the Bales Choral Society concluded their semester with a group potluck. These gatherings remind us of the central aspect of a choir that is always present, but seldom stated - the value of community. Community is at the heart of any choral ensemble, and is the inspiration and intention behind the creation of the Bales Choral Society. Thank you to all the members of the BCS who gave their time and energy this semester, and especially to the board members, who have worked diligently to ensure the upkeep of this wonderful group.

Yesterday afternoon, the KU organ studio celebrated one of the final recitals of the semester with a festive display of French flags! The flags pay homage to two intrinsic elements of the organ department at the University of Kansas: first, the acoustics of the hall, modeled after Saint-Francois-de-Sales in Lyon, France; second, to the repertoire students frequently perform on the Wolff organ, running the gamut of the French repertoire.

Last Thursday, KU organ students taking improvisation had their final exam - accompanying a silent film. The students worked with Dr. Wolfgang Reisinger to depict around 5 minutes of film each. The film was Cops, a 1922 film about a young man, Buster Keaton, who accidentally runs afoul of the entire LAPD during a parade and is chased all over town.

The Bales Choral Society was honored to perform the Mozart Requiem in Corpus Christi Catholic Church last Sunday. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable performance featuring faculty, staff, and students from across KU.

Interested in singing with us next semester? The BCS choir welcomes musicians from all backgrounds to make music together and foster community across KU’s campus! Email [email protected] for more information.

Tonight marked the last BCS rehearsal before our performance this Sunday! Come hear our performance of the Mozart Requiem this Sunday, May 3rd, at 7:00pm at Corpus Christi Catholic Church!

Here are some snapshots from the BCS’s rehearsal last Monday night - join us this Sunday as we perform the Mozart Requiem!

We hope you can join us this Thursday to enjoy Saint Saëns, Ravel and improvisations.