The Coppell Community Chorale welcomes TWO new directors!
The Board of Directors of the Coppell Community Chorale is pleased to announce Allison Hartzell as its next Artistic Director and Ricky Mitchell as the first Artistic Director of Variations, the Chorale’s select ensemble.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and the search team, we are all very excited to welcome Allison and Ricky as our new directors. They are extraordinarily talented individuals with the required passion, skill set, and community-mindedness that will move the chorale forward for years to come,” said Bethany Henze, Chorale President.
Hartzell will inspire members and audiences alike as she sets the tone for fun and friendly engagement through choral music. She brings her expressive vision and talent to Chorale with the goal to increase the capacity of the Chorale to reach a broader audience.
Hartzell is currently in her 12th year as the choral director at Coppell Middle School West. Under her direction, the West choirs consistently receive Superior and Best in Class ratings at state and local competitions. She has served as the Region XX MS Vocal Coordinator, West Fine Arts Department Chair, is an active choral adjudicator and holds memberships with TMEA, TMAA, ACDA, and TCDA. Hartzell is a cum laude graduate of University of North Texas and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice and Music Education. She lives in Coppell with her husband and two children.
In collaboration with Hartzell, Mitchell’s vast musical experience, passion for inspiring community involvement in the arts, and commitment to make the Variations “the best at what we do” will create a host of new opportunities for the Chorale.
Mitchell most recently served as the Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Coppell, including director of their youth Broadway musicals. Prior to that, he was at FUMC-Irving in the same role. Mitchell served as Executive Director of Student Programs at Grand Prairie ISD as well as a variety of administrative positions at Lamesa ISD. He served as Director of Bands at Big Spring HS (twice State Marching Band competitors) and other west Texas schools. A graduate of Texas Tech University, Mitchell has extensive church choir, community choir, band, and theatre experience.
Though the 2019-2020 season officially begins in mid-August, Hartzell and Mitchell have already been working with the Chorale Board over the summer to plan a knock-out concert season.
MEET THE NEW DIRECTORS!
The Chorale invites the Coppell community to meet Hartzell and Mitchell and learn more about the Chorale at the Season Kickoff Event on Saturday, August 10. The event will be held at the Coppell Center for the Arts, 157 S. Moore Road (next to Austin Elementary). Beginning at 5:00 pm with food, fellowship, and a sing-a-long of songs from the 2019-2020 concert season, the evening will continue with Spotlight Night at 7:00 pm. Current Chorale members will showcase their talents with solos, duets, and small ensemble performances.
ABOUT THE COPPELL COMMUNITY CHORALE
The first rehearsal of the 2019-2020 season will be Monday, August 19 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Coppell Center for the Arts. Two themed concert weekends are held in November and May in addition to a Holiday Concert in December and Special Community Concert in early Spring. New members are welcome to join anytime during the first three weeks of the semester.
The non-audition group brings together singers of all ages from Coppell and surrounding areas. Its mission is to promote, support, and sustain interest in choral music; enrich and inspire the lives of members and audiences; and to be leaders in the Coppell arts community.
Performance dates for the 2019–2020 season start with Chorale's traditional fall concert titled “Royal Treatment” with performances on November 2 and 3, 2019.
The Chorale’s 2019 holiday concert, “Visions of Sugar Plums” will be held at Rejoice Lutheran Church on December 14. This is a family-friendly celebration of holiday music, including sing-a-long songs for all ages in collaboration with the Coppell Community Orchestra.
In Spring 2020, the Chorale will perform “Stuff and Nonsense”, a free community concert filled with whimsy on February 23 at Cozby Library and Community Commons.
The Chorale will present “Broadway 101” at the NEW Coppell Center for the Arts opening in Old Town the weekend of May 30, 2020.