Beyond Bach selected to perform during opening home stand

Beyond Bach, the Bach and Handel Chorale's ensemble that features American music, has been tapped to sing the national anthem on April 22 for the last game of the Iron Pigs' 2010 opening home stand.

The 10-member ensemble auditioned in mid-February, along with approximately 200 other individuals and small groups, and received the nod for this early-season spot. The ensemble will be singing Brad Printz' a cappella arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner, which calls for seven distinct voicings.

For those who will miss the April 22 game, you can hear Beyond Bach perform the national anthem and its Americana repertoire this summer in the Jim Thorpe Gazebo. Watch for dates and times of this free concert series to be released in early June.

Auditions for membership in the 2010-11 ensemble will be held in late April. Call the chorale office at (570) 325-4794 or visit www.bhchorale.org for more information.

Beyond Bach was also recently notified that it will receive a grant for its summer concert series.

The Carbon County Commissioners have informed the ensemble that its grant submission in support of a free, summer concert series in the Jim Thorpe Gazebo has been awarded.

The grant funds will cover advertising costs for these family-oriented concerts of a cappella music, spanning the 300 years of American history.

Not only do the concerts provide entertaining listening, but the members of the ensemble also present information about the songs, the composers, or the era in which the music was written, adding an educational aspect to the performance.

For dates and times of the concerts, please check the aforementioned Bach and Handel Chorale's Web site, or call the chorale office.