The History of the Albuquerque Civic Chorus In 1934 a group of singers, calling themselves the Albuquerque Choral Society, informally organized to practice and perform choral music in the City of Albuquerque. Among its earliest directors were Dr. Kurt Frederick of the University of New Mexico and Dr. Hanz Lang, under whose direction the chorus sang with the Civic Symphony Orchestra. Subsequent directors have included Dr. Charles Woodul, Roland deRose, Harry R. Hook, Michael Cooke and, presently, Verallen Kleinhenz. Known since 1953 as the Albuquerque Civic Chorus, the group offers Spring and Holiday concert programs, presented at a variety of venues. In the past, the Albuquerque Civic Chorus has performed in Albuquerque for civic functions, at schools, with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and as the opera chorus for productions by the Albuquerque Opera Theater. In December of 2005 the chorus sang for a performance of The Nutcracker production by the Moscow Ballet. The chorus was invited to participated in a choral festival at Carnegie Hall in May of 2007. The Albuquerque Civic Chorus is truly a community chorus, comprised of approximately fifty volunteers with a diversity of ethnic backgrounds, ages, interests, occupations and experiences. Our members may be diverse in population, but all share a common bond through their joy in singing and bringing music to the public. Supported by contributions from independent donors and membership dues, the chorus seeks to provide an opportunity to learn and perform choral works of a variety of styles and difficulty. The chorus welcomes all interested singers. The first few rehearsals of each season are open to interested new members. No audition is required, just a commitment to attending rehearsals and learning new music.   Our Music Director Verallen (Vera) M. Kleinhenz has been a choir director, organist, music instructor, composer, and arranger for over 30 years. After studying with Dr. Lee Kjelson at the University of Miami, she went on to become the Music Director for Air Force and Navy chapel choirs in California, Mississippi, Arizona, Guam, and New Mexico where she now resides. Vera was also the director of the Keesler Chorale in Biloxi, MS, and the Skylarks at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. On Guam, she served as Assistant Director of the Guam Symphony Chorus and the University of Guam Chamber Singers. She was the soloist for the Guam Territorial Jazz Band that toured the Micronesian Islands frequently. She is the full-time Music Director/ Organist at Asbury United Methodist Church in Albuquerque and directs the Albuquerque Civic Chorus. She started with the Albuquerque Civic Chorus as an Assistant Director under Michael Cooke and was selected as Director in 2000. She has written several arrangements for the chorus which have been performed in various concerts. Vera is also a voice instructor and choral and handbell clinician. Vera is a member of the American Choral Directors Assocation, the Association of Lutheran Musicians, Handbell Musicians of America, the Choristers Guild, The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, and the Albuquerque Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. As a published composer and arranger, she is also a member of ASCAP. She helped form a new chorus named Expressions of Joy. The members of this chorus are mentally, physically, and emotionally challenged adults. Vera's SATB, SAB and 2 pt arrangement of the official state song, 'O Fair New Mexico,' will be featured in school districts throughout New Mexico during the 2012 Centennial. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music at the University of New Mexico in December of 2009 and will graduate in May of 2012 with a Masters degree in Choral Conducting.   Our Accompanist Marene Evans started piano lessons at age 5 and accompanied her junior high, high school and college choirs. She is also a singer, and during high school sang with the All-State Choir three years, performed in the musical “Cabaret” and sang with the first high school swing choir in Albuquerque at Manzano High School. She holds a Bachelors degree in Piano and Voice with a minor in Education from Eastern New Mexico University. She studied with Dr. Ann Anderson (voice), Dr. Ruth Corwin Meyer (piano) and Prof. Ronald Shirey (choir) while at ENMU. She performed recitals in both piano and voice and also accompanied five vocal recitals while in college. She has worked as a substitute music teacher with APS and has taught piano privately. Most recently in addition to the Civic Chorus, she sang in the community performance of The Armed Man for the September 11th remembrance and played for the Recital Chorus for Vera’s graduate recital. Marene now has the double pleasure of both playing and singing along side her daughter in the Albuquerque Civic Chorus.     © JK