By mid-August, the Peninsula Singers should have an idea who their new artistic director will be.
The local show chorus group has been looking for a replacement for the popular Glenda Korella, who announced her retirement from the group at the end of May this year.
Peninsula Singers’ President Louise Jovanovic says the news came during their review of their May performances. The search committee was put together right away and they’ve been looking ever since.
“Glenda has been with the choir for 15 years,” she said. “She has given a large amount of energy, time and went over and above what you would expect.”
Finding a replacement, Jovanovic admitted, is not going to be easy, especially as the organization’s expectations are quite high.
That said, Jovanovic said they have a small group of applicants they are excited about, each of whom could bring something different to the position.
“We are looking for someone who primarily has a background in music, the education and performance experience to back it up and directing experience.
“Someone who is prepared to work with a variety of singers.”
The Peninsula Singers, she explained, is made up of people who love to sing — young and old, experienced and not so experienced. There are different personalities as well, so she said the successful candidate will have to be a human resources manager as well.
“Managing the people is a big part of the job.”
It’s a role Jovanovic said Korella did very well.
On stage, Korella, she continued, was on fire and was always lit up for the singers.
“The audience only gets to see her from the back, but even the back had to be fabulous.”
Off stage, Jovanovic said Korella was fun, yet demanding and helped set a standard for the Singers that the organization does not want to see diminished.
That said, Jovanovic added the new artistic director will not only be expected to help maintain the standard of performance audiences have come to expect, but to be able to put their own mark on the group in the process.
Once chosen, Jovanovic said the new artistic director will work with Korella during a transition period, culminating in Korella’s final performance this Christmas.
Already, tickets for that series of three performances are selling well — with the popular Sunday show already half sold out.
To learn more about the show, visit peninsulasingers.ca.
