Chorale Presents Haydn, Mozart and Schubert

The Inland Master Chorale begins its 36th season with a trio of classical favorites accompanied by a chamber orchestra on Oct. 24 and 25 at the First United Methodist Church, 1 East Olive Avenue in Redlands. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Regina Coeli” is a single movement work written around 1779. Soloists are soprano Heather Duffer, alto Melanie Kraut, tenor Rick Morrison and bass Richard Steffen. “Mass in G” by Franz Schubert was composed in 1815 and has five movements. Soloists are soprano Susan Meinders, tenor Rick Morrison and bass Alan Frost. The “Lord Nelson Mass” (Mass in D Minor), written by Joseph Haydn in 1798 has 12 movements. Soloists are alto Dawn Kehret, tenor Joel Punay, bass Kevin Wenzel and featured guest soloist, soprano Blythe (Sweeney) Cates originally of Redlands. Cates began voice lessons at age nine with Patricia Gee and won several young artist competitions and scholarships. A Redlands High School graduate, she earned a Bachelors of Music at the University of California, Irvine. Cates went on to study opera performance and earn a Masters degree at the University of Texas, Butler Opera School. She currently teaches voice and vocal pedagogy at University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP). The 13-member orchestra, led by concertmaster and first violin Mischa Lakirovich, includes strings, brass, woodwinds and tympani. Irmengard Jennings will play organ. The 60-member chorale is under the direction of Roger Duffer, with associate Melva Morrison. The Chorale’s concert season continues Dec. 12 and 13 with “Christmas Around the World,” an international celebration in song. In March 2016, female composers are featured in “Music, She Wrote.” The season finale, “Just for the Fun of It!” on May 14 and 15, 2016, offers light-hearted selections from a variety of genres. Individual tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door and $10 for students and children. Season tickets are $65 and $30 for student/child. Concerts begin at 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Children five and under are not admitted.