After a lengthy search to replace its retiring director, Edwin Lawrence, the Bennington County Choral Society has named its new director. Cailin Marcel Manson, of Putney, Vermont, will take the reins of the chorus, which has a long history in the area.
Mr. Manson came to Vermont from his native Philadelphia, where he worked to increase community involvement in music by creating performance and training opportunities for singers and musicians of mixed experience. He is the founding director and conductor of the Germantown Concert Chorus, as well as the Germantown Institute for the Vocal Arts. Mr. Manson has worked with ensembles both nationally and internationally. He is presently the Director of Music at the Putney School.
A graduate of the Esther Boyer College of Music of Temple University, Mr. Manson also received a Magister in orchestral conducting and opera from the Universitat Mozarteum Salzburg in Austria.
The Bennington County Choral Society will begin rehearsals for its December concert, The Majesty of Music, under the direction of Mr. Manson on September 8. Choral pieces by Handel, Vaughn Williams, and Rutter will be featured. Singers from ages 15 and up are invited to come to an orientation on August 23 from 1 PM to 4 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse at 108 School St. in Bennington to get acquainted with the new director and the music for this concert. There is no cost for this orientation, and no obligation. More information can be obtained by calling Linda Putney at 802-442-8829.