Maria Hagan is hoping more people are willing to join the community choir, Lincoln Highway Chorale, but is happy with the turnout thus far.
“Having so many people involved at this point is amazing,” Hagan said. “I was hoping that this ensemble would ultimately grow to be 50-60; the fact that we are already over 40 is fantastic! The more the merrier with this ensemble.”
The choir is working now on their repertoire, with a first event scheduled for Mount Vernon’s Heritage Days following the parade.
“My plan is for the chorale to sing at multiple community events throughout the year,” Hagan said/ “In addition to Heritage Days, we are planning to sing at the Lincoln Highway Arts Festival Sept. 26 and Magical Mount Vernon in December. Next year, I hope to add Chalk the Walk and Sauerkraut Days.”
There will be an additional Halloween themed concert to be held in October as well this year.
Hagan has grown up participating in both church and community choirs, and wanted to see these experiences for other people as well.
“So many people participating have shared that although they participated in choir in high school or college, they haven’t had an opportunity to do so since,” Hagan said. “I think music is a wonderful way to bring people together and build community, so I’m glad to be able to provide this opportunity.
The choir practices on Monday evenings at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon from 6-7:30 p.m. There are no auditions, and all are welcome. If you can not make rehearsals, contact Hagan at [email protected]
For Heritage Days, the repertoire will be a mix of music that celebrates community building and diversity.
“For the Arts Festival in September, I’m planning music that celebrates the arts – I’m aiming here to celebrate the importance of arts in building and maintaining communities,” Hagan said. “Our fall concert will be Halloween themed. And for Magical Mount Vernon we will sing a mix of holiday and winter songs. We will sing about 20-25 minutes for each community event and the concert will be about 45 minutes.”
And the choir is welcoming to singers of all ages, like the choir Hagan grew up in.
“I fell in love with choir as a young girl singing in church choir with my mom and I would love for this to become something that kids/parents/grandparents can all do together,” Hagan said. “We already have some parents and children participating together.”
The choir is partially funded by the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council.
Hagan currently serves as the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Hiawatha. She is also an adjunct Instructor of Voice at Kirkwood Community College. Previously, she served on the faculty at Cornell College and as a co-Director of the community choir The Quire of Eastern Iowa. Hagan holds a doctorate in Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. A rising choral conductor, Hagan was a semi-finalist for the American Prize in 2021 for her performance of Dvorak’s Mass in D Major, op. 86, featuring the Indiana University Chorale and Conductors Orchestra. Hagan is a member of the semi-professional choir, Vocal Artists of Iowa, and is an active soloist throughout the community. She resides in Lisbon with her husband, Chris, and three children, Ben, Elizabeth, and Emma.