Rehearsals begin Aug. 24 for the Winter Concert
The McDonough Choral Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Interim Music Director Dr. Melissa Chávez. Dr. Chávez will lead the Choral Society in the performance of Handel’s Messiah on December 14, 2026 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb.
Dr. John Orfe, who lead the MCS during the 2025-2026 season made the decision to step back this season due to scheduling conflicts. According to Orfe, “Dr. Chávez brings many years of experience as an applied voice instructor to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in classical, music theatre, and Contemporary Christian Music. Her extensive choral conducting experience, largely throughout the Washington, D.C. area, includes Mozart’s C Minor Mass, Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, various musicals... AND Handel’s Messiah. At Western Illinois University, in addition to her voice studio, she directs the Opera Workshop, coaching singers in English, Italian, Latin, French, and German diction. I can think of no one better suited to uphold our mission and take our singing to the next level.”
The Choral Society will kick off rehearsals with Dr. Chávez for all new and returning singers on Monday, August 24, 2026 from 7-9 pm at Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb. At that time, we will have a meet and greet with Dr. Chávez, distribute music and begin singing together. If you are new or haven’t sung in a chorus for a long time, this is a wonderful opportunity to jump back in. There are openings for all voice parts with no auditions; the ability to read music and a love of singing are the only requirements. For more information contact MCS Board President Lynn Johanson at ls-johanson@ wiu.edu.
