About
The South Holland Master Chorale
About The Chorale
South Holland Master Chorale’s 90-plus active members have a long history as one of the premiere singing ensembles of the Chicago Southland.
The Chorale grew from a group that began in the early 1970s under the direction of the late J. Albert Kindig at what was then Thornton Junior College, later renamed South Suburban College in South Holland, where the group was known for many years as South Suburban Chorale. Under the direction of Albert M. Jackson from 1998 until 2022, the Chorale now receives financial support from the Village of South Holland, from which it takes its current name.
The Chorale draws singers from no fewer than 40 cities and villages extending from the South Side of Chicago to Kankakee and from Orland Park to Chesterton, Indiana. Broadly diverse and proudly non-discriminatory, the Chorale enjoys membership from across a wide range of demographics. The Chorale has always remained a non-auditioned group – all who love fine choral music and are willing to work hard to bring it to perfection are welcome, regardless of previous choral experience.
Now under the direction of Philip J. Bauman, South Holland Master Chorale remains the Chicago Southland’s premiere symphonic chorus, having performed many of the greatest masterpieces of classical choral and choral/orchestral literature.
Over its long existence, the Chorale has performed throughout the Chicago south suburbs and Northwest Indiana, presenting major works such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” with the LaPorte (Ind.) Symphony, Mozart’s “Requiem” and Bernstein’s “Mass” with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Mozart’s Grand Mass in C minor with the Chicago Community Chorus, as well as Mendelssohn’s “Hymn of Praise” and contemporary American composer Dan Forrest’s “Requiem for the Living.”
The Chorale also has gained a reputation for stirring performances of songs in the African-American spiritual tradition by composers and arrangers such as Moses Hogan, Jester Hairston, Roland Carter and others.
In 2011, Chorale members embarked on a concert tour of Europe, singing to enthusiastic audiences in the cathedrals of Salzburg, Vienna, Mondsee and Melk, Austria, and Prague, Czech Republic. In 2010, the Chorale received the South Suburban Small Business Association’s Summit Award for Creative Arts.
About Our Director
The South Holland Master Chorale is proud to announce the appointment of Philip J. Bauman as its new Music Director in 2022. Recognized by critics as offering “tremendously sensitive direction” and being “a gifted and spirited conductor,” Philip Bauman brings to the chorale decades of leadership and enthusiasm energizing the imagination of musicians and audience members. Maestro Bauman is also the Music Director of the Michigan City Messiah. Known for his charismatic presence on and off the podium he is frequently hailed for his innovative programs and consistently captivating performances.
During his successful 24-year tenure at the La Porte County Symphony, he is credited with significantly raising the orchestra’s artistic level, spearheading a resurgence in educational programming, more than doubling the audience and expanding the budget three-fold since his arrival in 1994.
Mr. Bauman brings to the chorale a rich history of work with choruses and choral ensembles including work with Chicago Opera Theater, Downers Grove Oratorios Society, The Opera Factory, Light Opera Works, Boise Opera, Starlight Theater, and da Corneto Opera. In 2017, he was a finalist for the music director position with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra (IN).
A passionate advocate for music education, Mr. Bauman has dedicated much of his career to exploring music with young people through educational concerts and work with youth and college orchestras. With performances locally and internationally, Mr. Bauman has taken members of the Northwest Indiana Youth Symphony Orchestra to Toronto, Canada, New York, St. Louis, Cleveland and two educational European tours. In 2018 the Youth Orchestra traveled to Italy and gave performances in Rome, Pisa, Pavia and Cremona. In 2014 the Youth Orchestra toured Salzburg, Vienna and Munich.
“As a passionate lover of the voice and choral singing, I’m excited to build on the legacy and the rich traditions of the chorale and bring a new perspective to this excellent ensemble so carefully and lovingly built by Al Jackson,” notes Phil. He holds a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in music theory from Western Michigan University.
To learn more visit PhilipBauman.com
About Our Accompanist
Marilyn Bourgeois was the accompanist for the Governors State University Chorale under the direction of Rudolf Strukoff from winter of 1978 to spring of 1997, then accompanist for the South Suburban Chorale under the direction of Nick Thomas from fall of 1997, then under the direction of Albert M. Jackson starting in the fall of 1999 and continued to serve with him as the accompanist for the South Holland Master Chorale until Mr. Jackson’s retirement as of June 30, 2022. She will continue to serve as the accompanist of the South Holland Master Chorale under the new direction of Mr. Philip J. Bauman. Marilyn is a member of the music faculty at South Suburban College, South Holland, Illinois, where she teaches piano.
Ms. Bourgeois holds a B.F.A degree from Stephens College and an M.M. degree with high distinction from Indiana University, where she was an Associate Instructor of Piano. Her teachers have included David Milliken and Ania Dorfmann at Stephens College, Jorge Bolet at Indiana University, William Masselos at the Aspen Summer Music Festival, and Jeanne-Marie Darré at the Academie Internationale d’ Ėtė, Nice, France.
Ms. Bourgeois is symphony pianist of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and is widely sought as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the Midwest. She formerly taught piano, piano pedagogy, and humanities at Governors State University. She serves on the Board of Judges of the National Guild of Piano Teachers and holds national certification from Music Teachers National Association. Ms. Bourgeois is listed in American Keyboard Artists.
About The Board of Directors
Melodee J. Leimnetzer, President – email
Suzanne Kalweit, Vice-President, Music Manager
Kelly Hladek, Secretary
Rev. Dr. Addison Shields, Treasurer
Dennis Benard – Marketing Director – email
Louise Hawkley – Endowment
Kathy King – Publicity
Marilyn Quinn – Social Events
Phillip R. Schwartz – Publicity
Timothy Toeset – Publicity
Kathryn Worthen – Marketing
Philip J. Bauman, Ex-Officio – email
South Holland Master Chorale is a premier choral group, under the direction of Philip J. Bauman, that performs classical concerts throughout the Chicago Southern Suburbs and Northwest Indiana. We have over 100 members and are recognized for our notable performances including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Grand Mass in C minor, Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise, and most recently the Mozart Requiem, Bernstein’s Mass, and the concert version of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with the Illinois Philharmonic.