We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers who are working tirelessly and courageously to care for those adversely affected by COVID-19, especially our Anima-GECC family members! You are keeping us safe and healthy, and because of you (and with the help of technology) we are still able to sing and learn!
Breath, Life, Soul, Spirit!
As we all find ourselves in unprecedented times, we want you to know that the health and safety of you and your families have been utmost in our thoughts. You may be experiencing challenges right now and I want you to know that your Anima family is here for you, just as you have been here for Anima. Your loyalty and generous spirit have made it possible for Anima to continue to be the community we love. 
 
Mrs. Boyer has worked tirelessly to prepare and transition to e-learning - a huge undertaking because we have always created our music by coming together, in person, as a community. Well, she has made the impossible, possible – she is amazing! Thanks also to our KidSingers director, Sally Hepler, who has created weekly videos for our youngest singers, and to our wonderful accompanists who have created practice tracks to keep everyone singing!

The Anima staff continues to work remotely supporting our art and are ready to assist you. Carolyn Kunzler, our Operations and Finance Manager, is in our office a few days a week. Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you need assistance. We are checking messages and will respond.
 
Given the extreme uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made changes to the remainder of our season by canceling our SingFest originally scheduled for May 2. Our May and June events seem susceptible to cancellation as well. We will notify you of any changes as soon as we are made aware. 
 
When we planned the 2020 artistic vision last summer, I never would have imagined we would find ourselves in our current situation. And yet I am pleased, as you should be, that all of us have continued to create wonderful art with our singers, to offer community in new ways to combat isolation and to provide new educational materials that just a month ago had not existed. We’re doing all of this with the goal of excellence for our families and our singers.
We look forward to welcoming you back to rehearsals and concerts as soon as possible. In the meantime, may you and your family be safe and healthy!

Sincerely,
Charles Sundquist, Artistic Director
2020-21 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
In addition to our regular season concerts, Anima-GECC has a very special 2020-21 season planned. Our season begins with Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the New Philharmonic Orchestra , Kirk Muspratt, conductor, at the MAC on September 26 th and 27 th .
Following our December holiday concerts, we will prepare J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion for performances with Chicago’s Music of the Baroque as part of their 50 th Anniversary season. 
March 28 th at the North Shore Center, Skokie,
and March 29 th at the Harris Theater, Chicago.
NEW SEASON, NEW MUSIC!
 Our 2020-21 season culminates with a very special project, which continues Anima's long legacy of commissioning new music.
Anima - Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus &
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Co-Commission

"Bronzeville Boys and Girls"
for orchestra and children’s chorus

World premiere by Chicago's Augusta Read Thomas
featuring poetry by Chicago's Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks
This project is big and bold – it aims to touch thousands of individuals, young and old, through music, song and collaboration. 

Featuring a great American poet with prominent Illinois ties,
a Chicago-based composer and two well-respected Illinois arts institutions, the co-commission is designed to add an important voice to the American orchestral tradition for generations to come.
THE MUSIC   A co-commission between Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) and Anima – Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus , this world premiere work celebrates Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks in song, introducing new generations to Brooks’ poetry. Anima Artistic Director Charles Sundquist approached IPO with this co-commission, having been moved by Brooks’ Bronzeville for Boys and Girls for a number of years. 
THE POET Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) was an American poet, author, and teacher whose work often dealt with the personal celebrations and struggles of ordinary people in her community. Born in Topeka, Kansas, Brooks’ family moved to Chicago when she was an infant and her poetry was greatly influenced by the city she called home. Brooks was the first African-American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1950, for  Annie Allen ). She was also a Poet Laureate of Illinois (1968-2000), Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (1985–86), and the first African-American woman inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1976).
THE COMPOSER Augusta Read Thomas is a longtime Chicago-based composer. Named Chicagoan of the Year in 2016, Thomas was the longest-serving Mead Composer-in-Residence with the Chicago Symphony, working under Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez. Currently Professor of Composition at the University of Chicago, she founded the school’s Center for Contemporary Composition. In 2007, Thomas's composition, Astral Canticle , was one of two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Music. Her composition, Colors of Love , on an album by Chanticleer, won a Grammy Award in 2000. Thomas’ 2019 world premieres include Sweet Potato Kicks The Sun at Santa Fe Opera and The Auditions , a ballet for Martha Graham Dance Company.

IPO and Anima chose Thomas based upon her wide experience with orchestra/choral groups, impressive national presence, familiarity with jazz-infused tonality, Chicago residence, and familiarity with Brooks’ poetry, having been involved with a Brooks retrospective in 2017. Thomas also composed for Anima-GECC while she was studying composition some thirty years ago!
THE COMMISSION

●      A new 25 minute work for orchestra (66 players, approx.) and children’s chorus, to be premiered April 2021 at Ozinga Chapel in Palos Heights, IL

● Piano reduction for chorus to be made available to children’s choral groups across the country and internationally (to be publicized/distributed through a professional and well-established publisher)

SHARING THE MUSIC

●      Three workshopped performances of 1-3 songs to include chorus and piano in Chicago-area venues and abroad during Anima’s 2021 international tour

●        Multiple single-day in-school music workshops led by Anima/IPO/Augusta Read Thomas at partnering schools, including at least two of the six schools (Harvey and Aurora) named after Brooks in Illinois

●        Poetry Symposium in Chicago featuring full performance of the work, including vocal participation of partnership school children; poetry readings; youth music performances; and multi-art displays

●        Professional recording and distribution of CD to a large-scale audience beyond our geographical footprint

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US TO HEAR THIS NEW AND EXCITING WORK!
Thank You!
We are grateful for the generosity of all those who enable our young people to continue to grow as young musicians! If you would like to share your support of Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus, please consider a tax-deductible donation.
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501 Hill Ave Suite 207
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Office: 630-858-2471