On Monday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m., St. Barnabas Church, Cortez, will welcome the Rochester College A Cappella Chorus.

This 40-voice ensemble is on tour from Rochester Hills, Mich. They are under the direction of Dr. Joe R. Bentley, who has performed professionally in opera, oratorio, concert, and recital. The evening’s performance will include music ranging from Poulenc to American spirituals. A free will offering will be taken to support the Chorus’ tour and to benefit St. Barnabas’ Grace’s Kitchen.

To rise to the level of excellence required to participate in the Chorus, in addition to their academic studies, students must commit to three and a half hours of rehearsal each week. Graduates of the music department have gone on to complete graduate degrees in private and public institutions and have enjoyed successful careers as performers and teachers.

Now in its 54th year, the Chorus presents over 20 concerts each year throughout the Midwest and Canada. The group has appeared regularly in southeast Michigan, singing major works with orchestras, including Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and the Mozart, Durufle, Faure, Cherubini, and Verdi Requiems. The chorus has also appeared with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra classical and pops concerts, and has sung for Neeme Järvi, Jan-Pascal Tortelier, and Erich Kunzel. Last year, the chorus participated in the Michigan premiere of Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass, and sang at Carnegie Hall, performing the Brahms Schicksalslied and Nänie with orchestra.

For information about the concert, please call 565-7865.