Bosque Chorale mixes it up during spring concert

• Conductor David Anavitarte dried tears of joy after a laugh during the Bosque Chorale’s annual spring concert in the Frazier Performance Hall at the Bosque Arts Center on Thursday, April 11. Nathan Diebenow | The Clifton Record
• The Bosque Chorale performed its annual spring concert -- this year entitled “The Impossible Dream -- on Thursday evening, April 18, in the Frazier Performance Hall at the Bosque Arts Center in Clifton. Nathan Diebenow | The Clifton Record

Whether you grew up listening to sacred or secular music, you would have encountered joy from the Bosque Chorale’s spring concert on Thursday, April 11, at the Frazier Performance Hall at the Bosque Arts Center.

Conductor David Anavitarte, the 30-member Bosque Chorale, and the four instrumentalists took the audience through a sonic journey of inspiration during the hour long show.

The musicians kicked off the show – the 20th under Anavitarte’s leadership – with the 1971 pop song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” by the New Seekers as arranged by Mark Hayes.

Listeners would have recognized the tune from the popular television commercial for Coca-Cola.

Next the chorale performed the Silbar/Henley song popularized by Bette Midler “Wind Beneath My Wings” in 1988.

Following the sentimental ballad was “God Help the Outcasts” from the Walt Disney animated film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” as arranged by Audrey Snyder.

The chorale continued to blend the sacred with the secular with Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” which was also featured in a Walt Disney production “Shrek.” This version’s arrangement was by Roger Emerson.

Anavitarte and his musicians pivoted to lighthearted modern classics in different genres for the second half of the show.

Rounding the corner were favorites from “The Rat Pack,” as arranged by Ryan O’Connell Next the group performed the Eagles’ hit “Desperado,” arranged by Mac Huff, followed by “John Denver in Concert” arranged by Alan Billingsley.

Nearing the end of the show, the chorale played the theme from “New York, New York” arranged by Mark Hayes.

To conclude, the musical team performed “The Impossible Dream” from the “Man of La Mancha,” as arranged by Mark Hayes.

The Bosque Chorale consisted of sopranos Marye Bickham, Tami Ditto, Stephanie Geodecke, Joyce Grelle, Belinda Honea, Sharon Pollan, Diane Powers, Chanda Robertson, Libby Robertson; tenors Steve Heinley, Aaron Rodney, Emitt Tiner, George Wilkinson, Lola Williams; altos Kathy Anavitarte, Karen Atkins, Marsha Brown, Jeanie Cosper, Punky Penberthy, Ann Spenrath, Donna Stevens; and basses Matt Armstrong, Ronnie Cosper, Daniel Kern, Mac McClary, Robert Miller, Mike Mitchell, Jerry Reesing, Barry Townsend, and Lynn Woods.

Instrumentalists included Kenny Balinao on piano; Dr. Ben Charles on drums; Sonny Tyler on guitar; and Richard Estes on upright bass.

Following the performance was a reception on the second-floor gallery.