April 18 Fredericksburg Concert Barbershop-style harmony combined with high-energy choreography and colorful costuming will mark the program here Sunday, April 16, when the Alamo Metro Chorus (AMC) performs for the Fredericksburg Music Club’s seventh of eight programs scheduled during the 2022-23 concert season.
Seating for the 3 p.m. concert in the sanctuary of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 North Llano, will begin at 2:30 p.m. on a first- come, first- served basis. The performance is free, although goodwill offerings are welcome.
A member of Sweet Adelines International, the largest world’s largest non-profit women's musical organization, the San Antonio-based chorus is comprised of women of all ages throughout Central Texas who are drawn together by the love of barbershop-style harmony in providing close harmonies and ringing chords.
Directed by Ryan Heller, the chorus’ members share their enthusiasm with 23,000 other members from across the globe, including women in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden and Wales.
Celebrating its 28th anniversary this month, AMC has earned nine regional championships and 12 appearances in international competition and placed in the top ten on two occasions. They have also claimed international fourth-place medals for their entertainment package per-formed in the Harmony Classic Contest in Baltimore, MD, in addition to tying for first place in this year's regional competition and earning first place in the AA mid-size chorus division.
The group maintains a full performance schedule singing for private, cultural and community events, including Memorial Day ceremonies at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, The Spurs, Stars and Rampage games, The Blazing Gavels KLRN Auction and the United Communities of SA Awards Banquet.
AMC -- whose membership includes teachers, students, homemakers, executives and retirees -- also annually adopts a charity, with the group’s choice for the past several years being the Ronald Mc-Donald House which provides housing and comfort to many families whose children are receiving medical treatment in San Antonio.
Chorus director Heller has for the past 17 years been directing the Pride of Portland Chorus with whom he has won eight regional championships and many top-ten placements at Sweet Adelines International Competitions. In 2013, he was recognized as a Master Director 700.
In his professional life, Heller is the artistic director and conductor of Chorus Austin with whom he has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Austin Critic’s Table Award for Best Classical Performance and the 2017 Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America.
Past positions include music director/conductor of the Southwest Washington Symphony and co-founder/ conductor of Portland Vocal Consort and the Columbia Chorale of Oregon. His bachelor and masters degrees are in conducting and vocal studies from Chapman University and Portland State University.
Among his productions as musical director/chorusmaster on the West Coast have been Sweeney Todd, Annie, Brigadoon, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Magic Flute and La Cenerentola. In 2016 he served as conductor for the world premiere opera The Canticle of the Black Madonna.
He has appeared or recorded with numerous groups, including the Austin Symphony, Portland Opera, Rose City Chamber Orchestra, William Hall Master Chorale, Capella Romana, Astoria Music Festival and Broadway Rose Theater Company. He has toured with ensembles throughout the US, Europe, New Zealand and China.
In addition to freewill offerings given at the door, the April 16 performance is also being made possible through donations from members of the Fredericksburg Music Club.
At the afternoon concert, membership cards for individuals or corporate sponsors wishing to join the Fredericksburg Music Club will also be available at the door.
Meanwhile, more information about the FMC or assistance in joining the organization is also available online at <http://fredericksburgmusicclub. com/>.