In the summer of 1985 the Michiana Male Chorus was organized from the remnants of several area male choruses that trace their origins back to 1930 . These include the Studebaker Male chorus, the Bendix Male Chorus, the South Bend Elks Club Male Chorus and the Tyler Refrigeration Blue Notes. The group is open to all men aged 17 and older in the Michiana community, without auditioning, and is now self-supporting. We rely on dues, fee based performances and generous contributions from music lovers in the community.
Besides our annual Christmas and Spring concerts we perform for various churches, hospitals, nursing homes and for various civic functions. The MMC has sung at naturalization ceremonies for new American citizens in the federal courtroom in South Bend, the opening of the South Bend Symphony season, the Indiana Tourism Council and the grand opening of the Studebaker national museum, as well as singing the national anthem at the South Bend Cubs games.
As a member of the Great Lakes Male Chorus Association, the chorus has participated in the Michigan District Big Sings for many years, and this year they will host the 2008 GLMCA Annual Sign at the Morris Center in South Bend.
In his fourth year directing the Chorus, William A. Soderberg comes with experience in choral music and more recently, in education. He previously sang with the Elks Male Chorus, directed a large United Methodist Church choir and directed the Scottish Rite Male Chorus for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States. He is also the past product ion manager of the Fire Fly Festival of the Performing Arts. Bill has been a classroom teacher, a music teacher in a local school district and is now a retired school administrator.
Our accompanist, Miriam Houck, brings an extensive range of experience to the chorus as well. She is currently the choir accompanist for John Young Middle School in Mishawaka, IN. She is the pianist for Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Osceola, IN and has substituted as pianist for other churches in the area. She also plays piano/keyboard for the Elkhart Civic Theatre and the South Bend Civic Theatre and provides outstanding accompaniment and musical direction for both.
The Michiana Male Chorus is pleased to be a part of such a great brotherhood of Choruses in the Great Lakes Male Chorus Association and thoroughly enjoy being a part of the annual Big Sing! Once again in 2016 the Michiana Male Chorus will be hosting the Big Sing at Bethel College on June 4th at 7:00 PM.
Visit our website at www.michianamalechorus.org
Great Lakes Male Chorus Association 